BH Prefix and Three-Letter Port Code
Bahrain UN/LOCODEs begin with the ISO country prefix BH and are followed by a three-character location identifier. For example, BHKBS identifies Khalifa Bin Salman Port in the supplied database sample.
Seaports in Bahrain: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026)
Bahrain has 10 ports and terminals indexed in the Ecer Freight database, supporting Gulf maritime trade, container handling, project cargo and regional distribution.
Review Bahrain port codes, operating locations, indicative cargo roles and current shipping context in one country-level guide.
Bahrain Port Overview
Bahrain is a compact Gulf shipping market positioned near major regional transshipment and distribution routes. Khalifa Bin Salman Port is the principal modern commercial gateway, while other indexed locations serve complementary maritime, industrial and local port functions.
10
Bahrain ports & terminals indexed in our database
Ecer Freight database · Nov 2026
—
National maritime cargo tonnage, 2025; official public YoY series not identified
MOT 2025 public data review
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Container throughput in TEU, 2025; official public YoY series not identified
MOT 2025 public data review
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Commercial berth count, 2025; official public YoY series not identified
Bahrain port authority sources · 2025 review
How many seaports does Bahrain have?
Bahrain has 10 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in its Nov 2026 country database snapshot. This is an indexed coverage count, not a claim that every location has the same commercial operating role.
Which is Bahrain's principal commercial port?
Khalifa Bin Salman Port, listed as BHKBS, is generally regarded as Bahrain's principal modern commercial and container gateway. Port activity and service availability remain subject to carrier and terminal confirmation.
Where is Bahrain's main freight activity concentrated?
Main freight activity is concentrated around the Al Hidd and Khalifa Bin Salman Port area, with supporting maritime locations including Mina Sulman, Sitra and Bahrain port facilities.
Top Bahrain Ports by Indexed Activity
The following table follows the supplied Ecer Freight activity order. Bahrain does not have a consistently published, comparable 2025 league table covering every indexed location, so rank, throughput and YoY fields are shown together as unavailable rather than inferred.
Indexed port and terminal sample, with 2025 throughput fields where a reliable public figure is available.
| World rank | Port | UN-LOCODE | 2025 throughput (M TEU) | YoY change | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Bahrain | BHBAH | — | — | Central Bahrain |
| — | Al Hidd | BHAHD | — | — | Eastern Bahrain |
| — | Mina Sulman | BHMIN | — | — | Central Bahrain |
| — | Khalifa Bin Salman Port | BHKBS | — | — | Eastern Bahrain |
| — | Sitra | BHSIT | — | — | Southern Bahrain |
| — | Al Manatnah | BHMAN | — | — | Central Bahrain |
Bahrain Port Regions and Cargo Roles
Eastern Commercial Gateway
The eastern cluster is associated with Bahrain's principal commercial port infrastructure and nearby industrial and logistics activity.
Eastern Bahrain port sample
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Al Hidd | BHAHD | Al Hidd | Commercial and industrial cargo support |
| Khalifa Bin Salman Port | BHKBS | Khalifa Bin Salman Port | Container, general and project cargo |
| Al Muharraq | BHGBQ | Al Muharraq | Local maritime and support activity |
Central Bahrain
Central locations include established port areas and indexed city-level entries serving local maritime, general cargo or historical port references.
Central Bahrain port sample
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bahrain | BHBAH | Bahrain | Country-level commercial port reference |
| Mina Sulman | BHMIN | Mina Sulman | Established general cargo and maritime activity |
| Al Manatnah | BHMAN | Al Manatnah | Local port and coastal cargo reference |
| Ai Manamah | BHMNM | — | City-level maritime reference |
Southern and Coastal Locations
Southern and coastal entries complement the principal commercial gateway and may represent industrial, local or terminal-specific maritime functions.
Southern and coastal Bahrain port sample
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sitra | BHSIT | Sitra | Industrial and energy-related maritime activity |
| Albajetty | BHAJY | Albajetty | Local coastal and terminal reference |
| Mina Sulman | BHMSN | — | Additional indexed maritime reference |
Bahrain Port Codes and UN-LOCODEs
City-Level and Terminal-Level References
A location code may represent a city, port area, terminal or operational reference. The code name should therefore be checked against the exact booking, bill of lading and carrier instruction before cargo is shipped.
How to Verify a Bahrain Port Code
Compare the code with the UNECE UN/LOCODE framework and then cross-check the current Ecer Freight port code directory. Carrier schedules and terminal instructions remain the final operational reference.
Shipping from Bahrain: Main Trade Lanes
Bahrain shipping options typically connect Gulf gateways with Asian, European, African and regional markets. Actual routing, transshipment, equipment and sailing time depend on the carrier, service string, season and cargo profile.
Bahrain to East Asia
Containerized consumer goods, machinery and industrial inputs commonly move from Bahrain through Gulf services toward East Asian markets.
Bahrain to Europe
European-bound freight generally uses Gulf–Mediterranean or Gulf–Northern Europe service networks with possible hub connections.
Bahrain to the Indian Subcontinent
Shorter regional services support trade in manufactured goods, food products, project cargo and industrial materials between Bahrain and South Asian markets.
Bahrain to Regional Gulf Markets
Regional Gulf movements may combine feeder shipping, short-sea services and road connections depending on the destination and cargo requirements.
Sources and Methodology
- Ecer Freight Ports Database — first-party indexed coverage of 10 Bahrain ports and terminals, snapshot reviewed in Nov 2026.
- UNECE — UN/LOCODE structure and location-code reference framework.
- Bahrain Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications — official transport, maritime and port-information context.
- Bahrain Government — official national-government context for transport and logistics information.
- National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency — nautical and maritime reference context where applicable.
Bahrain Port FAQ
How many seaports does Bahrain have?
Bahrain has 10 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in the Nov 2026 database snapshot. The figure represents indexed coverage and does not imply that all ten locations have identical cargo-handling capabilities.
What is the largest or busiest port in Bahrain?
Khalifa Bin Salman Port, UN/LOCODE BHKBS, is generally identified as Bahrain's principal modern commercial and container gateway. Current vessel schedules and terminal data should be confirmed for a specific shipment.
What does a Bahrain port code look like?
A Bahrain UN/LOCODE starts with BH and then uses three location characters, such as BHBAH, BHAHD or BHKBS. The exact code should be checked against the booking and carrier documentation.
Which Bahrain port areas are important for freight?
The Al Hidd and Khalifa Bin Salman Port area is the principal commercial freight cluster. Mina Sulman, Sitra and Bahrain are also important indexed maritime references with different cargo and operational roles.
Are 2025 Bahrain port throughput figures available?
A consistently comparable official 2025 throughput series was not identified for every indexed Bahrain location. The page therefore does not infer rankings or TEU growth from incomplete data, and carrier or terminal confirmation is recommended.
How can shipping from Bahrain be quoted?
A freight quote normally requires the origin and destination, cargo description, weight and volume, container type, Incoterms, ready date and any special handling requirements. FCL and LCL rate-search options are available through the links in this guide.
Are Bahrain sailing times fixed?
No. Indicative transit times vary with the carrier, vessel rotation, transshipment hub, port congestion, customs procedures and season. Final schedules should be confirmed before booking.
This Bahrain guide combines the Ecer Freight port database snapshot from Nov 2026 with public maritime and government reference sources. Indexed port coverage is reviewed as database records change, while throughput, schedules and service availability are time-sensitive and should be verified with the relevant carrier, terminal or authority.
Ecer Freight · Seaports in Bahrain: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026) · Data reviewed quarterly · Port Codes · Ports by Country · Contact