UN/LOCODE: USMEM📍 United States
Port of Memphis (UN/LOCODE USMEM)
❖ Coordinates: 35.1495°N, -90.0490°E
❖ Time Zone: America/Chicago
❖ UN/LOCODE: USMEM
## About the Port
Located at **35.1495343 N, ‑90.0489801 W** in the heart of the Mid‑South, the **Port of Memphis (UN/LOCODE: USMEM)** is the United States’ largest inland port by cargo tonnage. Situated on the **Memphis Channel of the Mississippi River**, the facility operates within the **America/Chicago time zone** and serves as a critical intermodal hub for Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and the broader Central U.S. region. Managed by the **Memphis District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers**, the port benefits from a deep‑draft navigation channel (up to 9 ft at low water) and a robust network of rail, highway, and air connections that enable seamless cargo transfer between river barges, Class I railroads, and the **Interstate 40/55 corridor**.
The port’s strategic location—approximately **550 miles upriver** from the Gulf of Mexico—places it within a 12‑hour inland‑river transit window to major Gulf ports such as New Orleans, Mobile, and Gulf Port, making it a preferred gateway for agricultural, industrial, and consumer goods moving between the Midwest and global markets.
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## History
### Early Development (1820‑1900)
The Memphis River Port originated in the early 19th century when steamboat traffic on the Mississippi River accelerated the city’s role as a cotton export hub. By the 1840s, Memphis had established a **customs house** and a modest dock system that facilitated the shipment of cotton, tobacco, and timber.
### 20th‑Century Expansion (1900‑1950)
The construction of the **Harbor Improvement Project** (1915‑1923) by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers deepened the channel to 9 ft, allowing larger barges and fostering industrial diversification. The advent of **intermodal rail‑river terminals** in the 1930s linked the port to the **Illinois Central** and **Missouri Pacific** railroads, creating the first modern multimodal logistics hub in the region.
### Post‑War Modernization (1950‑2000)
Following World War II, the port underwent a series of upgrades, including the installation of **concrete bulkheads**, the introduction of **mechanized cargo handling equipment**, and the opening of the **Memphis International Airport cargo precinct** (1970). In the 1990s, the **Memphis Terminal** facility debuted, featuring container cranes and a dedicated automotive terminal that positioned Memphis as a leading **vehicle‑import gateway** for the Southeast.
### 21st‑Century Revitalization (2000‑Present)
The port’s recent renaissance is driven by **public‑private partnerships** that have invested > $200 million in infrastructure, notably the **Memphis Riverfront Intermodal Center** (opened 2018) and a **$75 million rail‑to‑river expansion** completed in 2022. These investments have lifted annual cargo throughput beyond **70 million tons**, reinforcing Memphis’s status as the world’s busiest inland port by tonnage.
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## Infrastructure & Facilities
### Navigation Channel & Docks
- **Channel depth:** 9 ft (maintained year‑round) with a 200‑ft wide navigation corridor.
- **Berthing space:** Over **15,000 linear feet** of quay wall equipped with roll‑on/roll‑off (Ro‑Ro) ramps, bulk‑cargo piers, and container gantries.
### Intermodal Terminals
- **Rail‑River Intermodal Center:** 4 × 100‑ton overhead cranes, 30 × 40‑ft loading bays, and direct track connections to **CSX**, **Union Pacific**, and **BNSF**.
- **Truck‑to‑River Facility:** 12 dock doors with advanced gate‑management software supporting **10,000 + truck moves per day**.
### Warehousing & Distribution
- **Bonded warehouses:** 2.5 million sq ft of climate‑controlled storage, including **dry‑goods** and **perishable** sections.
- **Automotive terminal:** 300,000 sq ft dedicated to **vehicle processing**, equipped with **automated guided vehicles (AGVs)** for rapid loading/unloading.
### Supporting Services
- **Customs‑Brokerage** and **U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)** pre‑clearance facilities.
- **Repair & Fabrication** workshops offering hull, deck, and mechanical services for river vessels.
- **Environmental monitoring** (water quality, sediment management) overseen by the Army Corps of Engineers.
For a complete technical specification, see the **U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Mississippi Valley Division** site. Source↗.
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## Economic Importance
### Regional Economic Engine
The Port of Memphis contributes **over $12 billion** annually to the regional GDP, supporting **approximately 75,000 direct and indirect jobs** across logistics, manufacturing, and agribusiness sectors. Its intermodal efficiency reduces freight costs by an estimated **15 %** compared with pure truck transport, delivering tangible competitiveness to Mid‑South manufacturers.
### Trade Facilitation
- **Agricultural exports:** The port handles **~40 %** of U.S. corn and soybeans shipped via the Mississippi River, leveraging bulk‑grain elevators situated along the riverbanks.
- **Automotive imports:** Over **1 million vehicles** pass through the Memphis automotive terminal each year, providing a cost‑effective entry point for Asian manufacturers targeting the U.S. market.
- **Consumer goods:** The container terminal processes **> 2 million TEUs** annually, moving finished goods from Asian, European, and Mexican manufacturers to distribution centers in the Midwest.
### Strategic Advantages
- **Reduced congestion:** By diverting freight from over‑burdened coastal ports, Memphis alleviates port‑related congestion, shortening supply‑chain lead times.
- **Resilience:** The inland location shields cargo from coastal hurricane risks, offering an alternative routing option during weather‑related disruptions.
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## Trade Routes & Major Cargo
### Primary River Corridor
- **Southbound to the Gulf of Mexico:** 9‑day barge transit to the Port of New Orleans, providing access to Atlantic and Caribbean shipping lanes.
- **Northbound to the Upper Mississippi:** Connections to **St. Louis**, **Cincinnati**, and **Chicago**, where cargo interchanges with Great Lakes and inland rail networks.
### Rail & Highway Links
- **Class I railroads:** Direct service by **CSX**, **Union Pacific**, **BNSF**, and **Kansas City Southern**, delivering freight to over **30** U.S. states within 48 hours.
- **Interstate network:** Immediate access to **I‑40**, **I‑55**, and **I‑69**, enabling rapid truck movement to the **Midwest** and **Southeast** markets.
### Major Cargo Profiles
| Cargo Type | Annual Volume (tons) | Primary Origin/Destination |
|------------|----------------------|----------------------------|
| **Grains (corn, soybeans)** | 22 million | Export to Asia & Europe |
| **Petroleum products** | 9 million | Imports from Gulf refineries |
| **Automobiles & parts** | 5 million | Imports from Japan, Korea & Mexico |
| **Containerized consumer goods** | 4 million | Imports from China, Vietnam, EU |
| **Construction materials (steel, cement)** | 3 million | Domestic distribution across the South |
### Emerging Trade Segments
- **Renewable‑energy components:** The port is witnessing growth in **wind‑turbine blade** shipments, leveraging its high‑clearance berths.
- **Cold‑chain logistics:** Investments in refrigerated storage are attracting perishable exports such as **fresh produce** from the Midwest.
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*The Port of Memphis (USMEM) remains a linchpin of U.S. inland maritime logistics, marrying historic river traffic with cutting‑edge intermodal technology to sustain a diversified, high‑value cargo flow that underpins the economic vitality of the Central United States.*
Port Intelligence
UN/LOCODE
USMEM
Country
United States
Province / Region
Tennessee
Latitude
35.149534
Longitude
-90.048980
Timezone
America/Chicago
Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Memphis?
The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Memphis is USMEM.
Where is Port of Memphis located?
The Port of Memphis is located in United States, Tennessee. Its coordinates are 35.1495°N, -90.0490°E.
What time zone is Port of Memphis in?
Port of Memphis operates in the America/Chicago time zone.
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About the World Port Index
This data is sourced programmatically. The UN/LOCODE is the official geographic coding scheme used by the United Nations for trade and transport locations.
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