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Seaports in Albania: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026)

Albania has 6 ports and terminals indexed in the Ecer Freight database, supporting Adriatic and Ionian Sea trade with a primary gateway role for regional cargo flows.

Compare Albania port codes, cargo gateways, regional roles and shipping considerations in one country-level guide.

Albania Port Overview

Albania is a small Adriatic and Ionian maritime market. Durres is the principal commercial gateway, while Vlore, Sarande and Shengjin serve regional, passenger, bulk, project and coastal requirements. Tirana appears in the database as an inland logistics entry rather than a seaport.

6 Albania ports & terminals indexed in our database Ecer Freight database · Nov 2026
— National maritime cargo throughput, tonnes · 2025 official consolidated figure and YoY change not published INSTAT · 2025
— Container throughput, TEU · 2025 comparable national figure and YoY change not published INSTAT · 2025
— Commercial berths · 2025 nationally comparable count and YoY change not published Albanian Port Authority sources · 2025

How many seaports does Albania have?

Albania has 6 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in its Nov 2026 database snapshot.

Which is Albania's largest commercial port?

Durres is Albania's principal commercial seaport and the leading gateway in this sample, represented by UN/LOCODE ALDRS and the related ALDRZ terminal entry.

Which areas handle Albania's main maritime cargo flows?

The central Adriatic corridor around Durres, code ALDRS, is the main freight area, while Vlore (ALVOA) and Shengjin (ALSHG) provide additional regional and specialized capacity.

Top Ports and Terminals in Albania

The table distinguishes Ecer Freight indexed coverage from a formal international TEU league table. Albania-specific port rankings and comparable 2025 TEU figures are not consistently published across all six indexed entries, so unsupported rank, throughput and YoY values are shown together as unavailable.

Albania port and terminal reference table · 2025 comparable throughput data subject to official confirmation

World rank Port UN-LOCODE 2025 throughput (M TEU) YoY change Region
— Tirana ALTIA — — Inland logistics entry
— Durres ALDRS — — Central Adriatic
— Durres ALDRZ — — Central Adriatic
— Vlore ALVOA — — Southern Adriatic
— Sarande ALSAR — — Ionian coast
— Shengjin ALSHG — — Northwestern Adriatic

Albania Port Regions and Cargo Roles

Central Adriatic Gateway

Durres is the principal commercial gateway for central Albania and the main seaborne connection for containerized, general and ro-ro cargo. The two indexed entries represent separate database records and should be confirmed against the carrier booking reference.

Central Adriatic port records

Port UN-LOCODE City / Province Main cargo role
Durres ALDRS — Primary commercial gateway; containers, general cargo and ro-ro
Durres ALDRZ Durres / — Durres-area terminal record; cargo role subject to terminal confirmation

Southern Adriatic and Ionian Coast

Vlore and Sarande connect southern Albania with Adriatic and Ionian services. Their practical use depends on vessel type, seasonal operations, cargo profile and current terminal schedules.

Southern coastal port records

Port UN-LOCODE City / Province Main cargo role
Vlore ALVOA Vlore / — Southern port; passenger, general, bulk and regional cargo uses
Sarande ALSAR Sarande / — Ionian passenger, ferry and coastal trade gateway

Northern Adriatic and Inland Logistics

Shengjin provides a northern coastal option, while Tirana is an inland logistics entry in the database and should not be treated as a vessel port. Cargo planning should connect the inland location with the selected Albanian gateway.

Northern coastal and inland records

Port UN-LOCODE City / Province Main cargo role
Shengjin ALSHG Shengjin / — Northwestern coastal gateway; general, bulk and regional cargo
Tirana ALTIA Tirana / — Inland logistics and administrative entry; not a seaport

Albania UN/LOCODEs and Port Code Structure

Albania port codes use the ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 prefix AL followed by a three-character location identifier. Code availability and operational status should be checked before booking.

AL Prefix and Three-Character Structure

An Albania UN/LOCODE begins with AL. Examples in the indexed sample include ALDRS for Durres, ALVOA for Vlore and ALSHG for Shengjin.

City-Level and Terminal-Level Records

A city-level record may identify a broader location, while a terminal-level record can identify a specific operational point. ALDRS and ALDRZ should therefore be checked against the carrier, terminal and shipping instruction.

How to Verify an Albania Port Code

Cross-check the code with the UNECE UN/LOCODE framework and the Ecer Freight port directory before submitting a booking or customs document.

Shipping from Albania: Main Trade Lanes

Albania shipping schedules are generally connected to Mediterranean and European hub networks. Transit times are indicative only and depend on transshipment, sailing frequency, equipment availability, customs procedures and final delivery location.

Albania to Italy and Adriatic Europe

Short-sea services commonly connect Albania with Italian and wider Adriatic markets for containers, ro-ro and general cargo.

Main origin portsDurres (ALDRS, ALDRZ); Vlore (ALVOA)
Main destination portsItalian Adriatic ports and regional hubs
Indicative transit timeTypically 1–4 days port to port

Albania to Greece and the Ionian Region

Southern and central Albanian gateways can support connections toward Greece and nearby Ionian markets, subject to service rotation.

Main origin portsSarande (ALSAR); Vlore (ALVOA); Durres (ALDRS)
Main destination portsGreek ports and Ionian regional gateways
Indicative transit timeTypically 1–5 days port to port

Albania to Turkey and the Eastern Mediterranean

Eastern Mediterranean cargo is often routed through direct or transshipment services, with schedules varying by carrier and season.

Main origin portsDurres (ALDRS, ALDRZ); Shengjin (ALSHG)
Main destination portsTurkish and Eastern Mediterranean hubs
Indicative transit timeTypically 5–12 days port to port

Albania to Northern Europe

Northern European cargo generally uses a Mediterranean hub connection, making transshipment planning and equipment confirmation important.

Main origin portsDurres (ALDRS, ALDRZ)
Main destination portsNorthern European hub ports
Indicative transit timeTypically 10–20 days port to port

Data Sources and Methodology

This page separates first-party indexed coverage from official national statistics and indicative logistics guidance. Published figures are retained only where a comparable public basis is available.

  1. Ecer Freight Ports Database — first-party database snapshot from Nov 2026, containing 6 Albania port and terminal records.
  2. UNECE — international UN/LOCODE structure and location-code reference framework.
  3. INSTAT — Albania transport and maritime statistics; national cargo and container figures are used only when the relevant annual measure is publicly comparable.
  4. Durres Port Authority — port infrastructure, operational context and gateway information for Durres.
  5. Albanian Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy — national transport policy and maritime-sector context.

Frequently Asked Questions About Albania Ports

How many seaports does Albania have?

Albania has 6 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in the Nov 2026 database snapshot.

What is the main commercial port in Albania?

Durres is generally regarded as Albania's main commercial seaport. The Ecer Freight sample includes ALDRS and ALDRZ for Durres-related records.

What are the main Albania port codes?

The indexed codes include ALTIA, ALDRS, ALDRZ, ALVOA, ALSAR and ALSHG. Each begins with the AL country prefix.

Which regions are important for Albania sea freight?

The central Adriatic corridor around Durres is the principal freight area. Vlore, Sarande and Shengjin provide additional southern, Ionian and northern coastal options.

How current are the Albania port figures?

The database coverage was reviewed in Nov 2026. Official statistics are referenced by their publication year, and operational schedules, port calls and transit times remain subject to confirmation.

Can Albania FCL and LCL freight rates be requested online?

Yes. FCL and LCL rate searches can be opened from the trade-lane section, with final pricing subject to cargo details, routing, equipment, sailing schedule and destination charges.

Editorial note: Albania port coverage is based on the Ecer Freight database snapshot reviewed in Nov 2026. Official statistics and port information are checked against publicly available institutional sources when updated data is released, while route descriptions and transit times are indicative and should be confirmed before shipment.

Ecer Freight · Seaports in Albania: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026) · Data reviewed quarterly · Port Codes · Ports by Country · Contact