The BG Prefix and Three-Letter Location Code
A Bulgaria UN/LOCODE begins with the ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country prefix BG and is followed by a three-character location identifier, such as BGVAR for Varna or BGBGS for Bourgas.
Seaports in Bulgaria: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026)
Bulgaria has 15 ports and terminals indexed in the Ecer Freight database and serves as a Black Sea and Danube gateway for regional European trade.
Explore Bulgaria port codes, cargo gateways, inland-waterway links and practical shipping information for 2026 planning.
Bulgaria Port Overview
Bulgaria combines Black Sea maritime gateways with Danube and inland logistics locations. Ecer Freight coverage is an indexed database count, while port throughput and container statistics use separate official or port-authority reporting scopes.
15
Bulgaria ports & terminals indexed in our database
Ecer Freight database · Nov 2026
—
2025 national port cargo total and YoY change require source-scope confirmation
MOT 2025 statistical releases
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2025 Bulgaria container throughput in TEU and YoY change not consolidated in one public national series
MOT 2025 / port disclosures
—
2025 national commercial-berth count and YoY change depend on the reporting definition
MOT 2025 port records
How many seaports does Bulgaria have?
Bulgaria has 15 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in its Bulgaria database coverage as of Nov 2026.
Which is Bulgaria's main seaport?
Varna, listed as BGVAR, is one of Bulgaria's principal maritime gateways and a major logistics reference point for Black Sea cargo.
Which areas handle Bulgaria's main port cargo?
The leading maritime cargo areas are the Varna and Burgas Black Sea clusters, while Svistov and Silistra support Danube and inland-waterway movements.
Top Bulgaria Ports by Cargo Role
The table follows the activity order of the Ecer Freight Bulgaria sample. Bulgaria does not publish a single consistently comparable national TEU league table for every indexed location; therefore, unavailable rank, throughput and YoY fields are kept together as “—” rather than mixing incompatible measures.
Indexed port and gateway sample · latest complete statistical year: 2025
Bulgaria Port Regions and Cargo Clusters
Varna Black Sea Cluster
The Varna area is a core eastern gateway for maritime cargo, project freight and regional distribution across the Black Sea hinterland.
Ports and indexed locations
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Varna | BGVAR | Varna | General cargo, containers and regional maritime distribution |
| Kavarna | BGKAN | Kavarna | Coastal and specialised cargo activity |
| Balchik | BGBAL | Balchik | Coastal, bulk and local port services |
| Nessebar | BGNES | Nessebar | Coastal and local maritime activity |
Burgas Black Sea Cluster
The Burgas area is Bulgaria's other principal Black Sea cargo cluster, supporting bulk, general cargo, energy-related logistics and regional supply chains.
Ports and indexed locations
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burgas | BGBOJ | Burgas | General cargo, bulk and Black Sea gateway services |
| Bourgas | BGBGS | Burgas | Alternative indexed record for Burgas maritime activity |
| Sozopol | BGSOZ | Sozopol | Coastal and local maritime services |
| Michurin | BGMIC | Michurin | Coastal and specialised local cargo activity |
Danube and Inland Logistics Corridor
Danube locations connect northern Bulgaria with inland-waterway trade, while Sofia and Plovdiv function as inland logistics and distribution centres rather than seaports.
Ports and indexed locations
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Svistov | BGSVI | Svistov | Danube inland-waterway cargo and transshipment |
| Silistra | BGSLS | Silistra | Danube cargo and cross-border inland-waterway logistics |
| Sofia | BGSOF | Sofia | Inland freight consolidation and national distribution |
| Plovdiv | BGPLV | Plovdiv | Inland industrial cargo and logistics distribution |
| Plovdiv | BGPDV | Plovdiv | Alternative indexed inland logistics record |
| Montana | BGOZA | Montana | Inland and regional freight activity |
Bulgaria Port Codes and UN/LOCODE Structure
City-Level and Terminal-Level Records
A location code can identify a city, port area, inland terminal or other transport location. Similar names may appear as separate indexed records, so the code should be checked before booking or preparing shipping documents.
How to Verify a Bulgaria Port Code
Compare the code with the UNECE UN/LOCODE framework and cross-check the current Ecer Freight port directory before quoting a routing or filing cargo instructions.
Shipping from Bulgaria: Main Trade Lanes
Indicative routings below describe common commercial planning patterns. Actual schedules, transshipment points, equipment availability and transit times are subject to confirmation.
Bulgaria to China
Black Sea export cargo generally moves through carrier networks with one or more transshipment connections before reaching major Chinese gateways.
Bulgaria to Northern Europe
Cargo for Northern European markets can use Black Sea feeder connections and transshipment hubs, followed by onward inland delivery.
Bulgaria to the Mediterranean
Mediterranean trade is commonly planned through feeder and regional services linking Black Sea origins with Mediterranean hubs.
Bulgaria to Danube Markets
Cargo serving Danube markets may combine maritime services with barge, rail or truck legs through Bulgarian inland-waterway locations.
Bulgaria Port Data Methodology
- Ecer Freight Ports Database — first-party index containing 15 Bulgaria port and terminal records, snapshot Nov 2026.
- UNECE — UN/LOCODE structure and location-code reference framework.
- Bulgaria Ministry of Transport and Communications — national transport policy, port administration and available statistical reporting.
- National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria — official national transport and trade statistics where published.
- Bulgarian Maritime Administration — maritime administration and port-related regulatory information.
Frequently Asked Questions about Bulgaria Ports
How many seaports does Bulgaria have?
Bulgaria has 15 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight as of the Nov 2026 database snapshot. This is an indexed-coverage count, not a claim that every record is a deep-sea commercial container port.
What is the largest or busiest port in Bulgaria?
Varna, identified in the Ecer Freight sample as BGVAR, is one of Bulgaria's principal maritime gateways. Burgas, also represented by BGBOJ and BGBGS records, is another major Black Sea cargo cluster. A single national ranking depends on whether cargo tonnes, TEU, liquid bulk or another measure is used.
What is the UN/LOCODE prefix for Bulgaria?
The UN/LOCODE country prefix for Bulgaria is BG. The three-letter location suffix identifies a port, city, terminal or other transport location, for example BGVAR for Varna.
Which regions are important for Bulgaria sea freight?
The main maritime areas are the Varna and Burgas Black Sea clusters. Svistov and Silistra provide Danube access, while Sofia and Plovdiv support inland consolidation and distribution.
How current is the Bulgaria port information?
The indexed-port snapshot is dated Nov 2026, while the latest complete statistical reference year is 2025. Port schedules, local charges, vessel calls and available capacity remain subject to confirmation at quotation time.
Can Ecer Freight arrange a Bulgaria sea-freight quote?
FCL and LCL quotation requests can be submitted through the relevant sea-freight rate pages. The final offer depends on origin, destination, cargo details, equipment, sailing schedule and inland delivery requirements.
Editorial note: Port codes and indexed coverage are maintained from the Ecer Freight database and reviewed against available official transport, maritime and statistical sources. Public cargo and container figures are updated as authoritative releases become available, while operational schedules and rates should be reconfirmed for each shipment.
Ecer Freight · Seaports in Bulgaria: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026) · Data reviewed quarterly · Port Codes · Ports by Country · Contact