Puerto Barrios, Guatemala
Puerto Barrios is Guatemala’s principal Caribbean port, serving as a vital hub for trade and regional connectivity.
Port Overview
Puerto Barrios is located on Guatemala’s Caribbean coast in the Izabal department, serving as the country’s main Atlantic port. Covering approximately 1,292 km², it ranks among Guatemala’s largest port cities. Strategically positioned on Amatique Bay near the Gulf of Honduras, Puerto Barrios is vital for agricultural exports and regional trade, with direct rail and highway links to Guatemala City. The port’s annual container throughput is around 200,000 TEU, supporting its role as a key gateway for Guatemalan commerce and connecting Central America to global shipping routes.
Facilities & Infrastructure
Puerto Barrios features multiple dedicated cargo terminals, including a specialized container terminal and bulk/general cargo facilities. The port offers approximately 800 meters of berth, modern container cranes with 40-meter outreach, and refrigerated container storage. Recent investments are expanding the container yard to 13 hectares and deepening the draft to 13.7 meters. Equipment includes modern container cranes and specialized machinery for break-bulk and bulk cargo, but there is no mention of automated guided vehicles (AGVs).
Container Terminals
Puerto Barrios has one container terminal with four berths and a maximum draft of 9.5 meters. Its annual capacity is around 525,000 TEUs, with plans to expand to 630,000 TEUs. The terminal uses mobile harbor cranes and has 1,100 reefer plug stations, but automation is limited and operations are largely conventional. Major operations are managed by COBIGUA, focusing on agricultural exports, especially bananas.
Port Services
- Container handling: Facilities and equipment for loading and unloading containers, including real-time tracking and dispatch optimization.
- Cargo operations: Supervision and management of general cargo, bulk, and breakbulk loading and discharging.
- Ship services: Agency representation, crew changes, delivery of spares and stores, limited ship repairs, garbage disposal, and water supply.
- Warehousing: Storage facilities for various cargo types, including bonded and general warehousing.
- Customs: On-site customs clearance and documentation support for import and export cargo.
Global Connectivity
Puerto Barrios serves as Guatemala's main Caribbean Sea port, strategically positioned within the Gulf of Honduras on Bahia de Amatique. The port connects Guatemala to major markets including the U.S. Gulf Coast, U.S. East Coast, Europe, and Caribbean destinations, while also supporting growing trade routes with Asian markets. Located 297 kilometers northeast of Guatemala City, it's the terminus of Highway CA9 and features national rail connectivity. Major carriers including Hapag-Lloyd, MSC, Maersk, and Great White provide regular service, with departures ranging from multiple times weekly to every 1-2 weeks.
Port Statistics
Puerto Barrios, Guatemala handles approximately 450,000 TEU annually, with expansion plans targeting 1 million TEU capacity. The port features 3 main berths and a mooring front of 580 meters. The terminal area covers about 8 hectares. Major global shipping lines such as Maersk, MSC, and CMA CGM call at Puerto Barrios. The port is not ranked among the world’s top 100 container ports by throughput.
