UN/LOCODE: USMKC📍 United States
Port of Kansas City (UN/LOCODE USMKC)
❖ Coordinates: 39.1000°N, -94.5700°E
❖ Time Zone: America/Chicago
❖ UN/LOCODE: USMKC
## About the Port
The **Port of Kansas City** (UN/LOCODE: **USMKC**) is a class‑II inland waterway port situated on the Missouri River at 39.1° N, ‑94.57° W, within the city limits of Kansas City, Missouri, United States. Operating in the **America/Chicago** time zone, the port serves as a critical intermodal gateway that links the extensive Mississippi‑Missouri river system to a dense rail network and major interstate highways (I‑70, I‑35, and I‑435).
As an inland port, Kansas City does not handle deep‑sea vessels; instead, it accommodates barge traffic up to **9 meters (30 ft) draft** and provides **dry‑dock and container handling facilities** for trans‑shipment between barge, rail, and truck. Its jurisdiction falls under the **Port Authority of Kansas City**, a public‑private partnership created to oversee navigation, cargo handling, and economic development in the region.
Key identifiers:
- **UN/LOCODE:** USMKC
- **Country:** United States
- **State/Province:** Missouri
- **Coordinates:** 39.1 N / ‑94.57 W
- **Time Zone:** America/Chicago
The port’s strategic location, approximately **200 km (125 mi) upstream of the Mississippi River confluence at St. Louis**, makes it the furthest inland barge terminal capable of handling containerized cargo on the Missouri River system.
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## History
### Early River Trade (1820s‑1860s)
Kansas City’s origins as a transportation hub trace back to the early 19th century when the **Missouri River** was the primary artery for steamboat traffic transporting fur, livestock, and agricultural products. By the 1850s, the city had become a key stop for river‑borne grain shipments heading eastward to New Orleans and beyond.
### Railroad Expansion (1870s‑1910s)
The arrival of the **Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway** (1870) and the **Kansas City Southern Railway** (1890) transformed the city into a multimodal logistics node. The convergence of river and rail prompted the construction of the first dedicated barge docks and rail yards on the riverbank, laying the groundwork for a formal port facility.
### Institutionalization (1970s‑1990s)
In **1972**, the Missouri River Navigation Project, overseen by the **U.S. Army Corps of Engineers**, completed a series of lock and dam upgrades that standardized navigation depths, allowing larger 3,000‑ton barges to reach Kansas City year‑round. The **Port Authority of Kansas City** was formally established in **1976**, providing a governance framework for port operations, infrastructure investment, and marketing.
During the 1990s, the port diversified beyond bulk grain, adding container handling equipment and cold‑storage silos to support perishable food exports and imported finished goods.
### Modernization (2000s‑Present)
A major capital program completed in **2008** deepened the main channel to 9 m and added a **300‑foot concrete wharf** equipped with modern gantry cranes. Subsequent upgrades—most recently the **Kansas City Inland Port Expansion (2019‑2022)**—expanded warehousing space by 40 % and introduced a state‑of‑the‑art intermodal terminal capable of handling **150 container lifts per day**.
These investments have positioned Kansas City as the **largest inland container terminal** on the Missouri River, enabling direct barge‑to‑truck/containerized supply chains that bypass congested coastal ports.
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## Infrastructure & Facilities
### Barge Terminal
- **Berths:** 4 deep‑water berths (300 ft each) with reinforced mooring piles.
- **Draft:** 9 m (30 ft) year‑round, maintained by the USACE Missouri River project.
- **Cargo Gear:** Two 40‑ton hydraulic forklifts, a 30‑ton mobile crane, and **four 15‑ton modular gantry cranes** for containerized and break‑bulk cargo.
### Intermodal Rail Facility
- **Railroads Served:** BNSF Railway, Union Pacific, Kansas City Southern, and a short‑line freight carrier.
- **Tracks:** 12 parallel tracks (up to 2 km in length), equipped with **high‑capacity hopper unloaders** for grain and a **dedicated automotive transload line**.
### Warehousing & Ancillary Services
- **Dry Warehousing:** 1.2 million ft² of climate‑controlled storage, including **bulk grain silos (15 mt capacity)** and **cold‑storage units (10,000 ft³)** for produce and pharmaceuticals.
- **Container Yards:** 0.8 million ft² of container stacking area with a **30‑day dwell limit** to encourage rapid turnover.
- **Customs & Inspection:** On‑site U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and USDA inspection stations, facilitating a **single‑window clearance** for imported containers.
### Navigation & Support Services
- **Pilotage:** Certified river pilots from the **Missouri River Navigation Pilot Association** provide mandatory navigation assistance for vessels exceeding 250 ft.
- **Tugboat Fleet:** Two 650‑hp river tugs, contracted through the **Kansas City Navigation Center**, assist with barge positioning and emergency response.
For detailed technical specifications, see the **US Army Corps of Engineers** navigation project overview[^1].
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## Economic Importance
### Cargo Throughput
| Year | Total Tonnage (million) | Container TEUs | Primary Commodities |
|------|--------------------------|----------------|---------------------|
| 2020 | 2.1 | 45,000 | Grain, Coal, Steel |
| 2021 | 2.4 | 52,000 | Soybeans, Fertilizer |
| 2022 | 2.6 | 58,500 | Ethanol, Automobiles |
| 2023 (proj.) | 2.8 | 62,000 | Diversified containers |
The port moved **approximately 2.6 million metric tons** of cargo in 2022, representing **5 % of total inland waterway freight** on the Mississippi‑Missouri system. Container traffic has risen at an average **8 % CAGR** since 2018, driven by the growing “**river‑to‑door**” logistics model that reduces highway miles and carbon emissions.
### Regional Economic Impact
- **Direct Employment:** ~1,250 full‑time jobs (dockworkers, pilots, logistics staff).
- **Indirect Impact:** Generates **$1.2 billion** in annual economic activity across the Greater Kansas City metropolitan area, supporting over **8,500** ancillary jobs in warehousing, trucking, and manufacturing.
### Strategic Role
Kansas City’s inland port functions as a **“logistics bridge”** between the agricultural heartland of the Midwest and global markets via the **Gulf of Mexico**. By enabling barge transport for bulk commodities and containerized goods, the port reduces freight costs by **15‑20 %** relative to pure truck shipments and contributes to the **U.S. Department of Transportation’s** goal of shifting 30 % of freight to waterborne modes by 2030.
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## Trade Routes & Major Cargo
### Primary Trade Corridors
1. **Southbound River Route:** Kansas City → St. Louis → Mississippi River → Gulf of Mexico (New Orleans, Houston). This corridor handles the majority of grain exports bound for overseas markets via Gulf ports.
2. **Northwest Inland Route:** Kansas City → Denver via the **BNSF** Northern Transcon, facilitating intermodal transfers for high‑value manufactured goods and automotive parts.
3. **East‑West Rail Loop:** Direct connections to the **I‑70** corridor allow rapid transshipment to the **Port of New York/New Jersey** for Atlantic trade.
### Major Cargo Categories
- **Agricultural Bulk:** Corn, soybeans, wheat, and feed grains (≈ 45 % of tonnage).
- **Energy & Chemicals:** Ethanol, biodiesel, petrochemical feedstocks, and nitrogen‑based fertilizers (≈ 20 %).
- **Construction Materials:** Aggregates, cement, and steel coils for regional infrastructure projects (≈ 15 %).
- **Containerized Goods:** Finished consumer electronics, automotive components, and perishable foods (≈ 12 % of TEU volume).
- **Specialized Cargo:** Hazardous materials (regulated by the **U.S. Department of Transportation**), oversized equipment, and rail‑ready intermodal containers.
The **Port of Kansas City** also serves as a hub for **reverse logistics**, handling the inbound flow of “green” products such as recycled plastics and used automotive parts destined for regional re‑manufacturing facilities.
---
### References
[^1]: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Missouri River Navigation Project. <https://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/Missions/Navigation/>
*For the most up‑to‑date cargo statistics and operational notices, consult the official Port Authority of Kansas City website.*
Port Intelligence
UN/LOCODE
USMKC
Country
United States
Province / Region
Missouri
Latitude
39.100000
Longitude
-94.570000
Timezone
America/Chicago
Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Kansas City?
The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Kansas City is USMKC.
Where is Port of Kansas City located?
The Port of Kansas City is located in United States, Missouri. Its coordinates are 39.1000°N, -94.5700°E.
What time zone is Port of Kansas City in?
Port of Kansas City 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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