CL Prefix and Three-Letter Location Code
A Chile UN/LOCODE begins with the country prefix CL, followed by a three-character location identifier. For example, CLSAN identifies San Antonio and CLARI identifies Arica in the indexed port sample.
Seaports in Chile: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026)
Chile has 80 ports and terminals indexed in the Ecer Freight database, supporting Pacific trade, mineral exports, container shipping, agricultural cargo and regional supply chains.
Explore Chile port codes, leading cargo gateways, regional port clusters and indicative trade lanes for international shipping.
Chile Port Overview
Chile’s long Pacific coastline provides gateways for containerized cargo, copper and mineral products, agricultural exports, forestry products, vehicles, fisheries and domestic coastal distribution. The indexed coverage below is a first-party database measure and should not be confused with a national port authority’s total port count.
80
Chile ports & terminals indexed in our database
Ecer Freight database · Nov 2026
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National seaborne cargo throughput, 2025; consolidated YoY figure pending official release
Chile MOT · 2025
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National container throughput, 2025; consolidated YoY figure pending official release
Chile MOT · 2025
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National commercial berth count, 2025; YoY change not consolidated
Chile port authorities · 2025
How many seaports does Chile have?
Chile has 80 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in its Nov 2026 database snapshot. This is an indexed coverage figure rather than a claim about every facility recognized by Chilean authorities.
Which are Chile’s most important container and cargo ports?
The leading indexed gateways include Valparaiso (CLVAP), Lirquen (CLLIR), San Antonio (CLSAN), Talcahuano (CLTAL), Arica (CLARI) and Iquique (CLIQU).
Which regions handle the main cargo flows in Chile?
Central Chile concentrates major container and general-cargo gateways around Valparaiso and San Antonio, while the north serves mining and industrial supply chains through Arica, Iquique, Antofagasta and Puerto Angamos. Southern ports such as Talcahuano, San Vicente and Puerto Montt support forestry, industrial, fisheries and regional cargo.
Top Chile Ports by Cargo and Container Activity
The table uses the leading Chile entries in the Ecer Freight port sample. A comparable 2025 national league table with verified port-level TEU and year-on-year figures was not available in the supplied data snapshot; therefore, rank, throughput and YoY fields are shown consistently as unavailable rather than estimated.
Selected leading indexed ports in Chile
| World rank | Port | UN-LOCODE | 2025 throughput (M TEU) | YoY change | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Valparaiso | CLVAP | — | — | Central Chile |
| — | Lirquen | CLLIR | — | — | Central-Southern Chile |
| — | San Antonio | CLSAN | — | — | Central Chile |
| — | Talcahuano | CLTAL | — | — | Central-Southern Chile |
| — | Arica | CLARI | — | — | Northern Chile |
| — | Iquique | CLIQU | — | — | Northern Chile |
| — | Antofagasta | CLANF | — | — | Northern Chile |
| — | Puerto Angamos | CLANG | — | — | Northern Chile |
Chile Port Regions and Cargo Roles
Northern Chile
Northern gateways connect mining regions and industrial supply chains with Pacific services and regional distribution networks.
Selected northern ports
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arica | CLARI | Arica / — | Containerized cargo, regional imports and exports |
| Iquique | CLIQU | Iquique / — | Containers, project cargo and regional distribution |
| Antofagasta | CLANT | Antofagasta Region / — | Mining, metals, bulk and industrial cargo |
| Puerto Angamos | CLANG | Puerto Angamos / — | Minerals, project cargo and industrial shipments |
| Caldera | CLCAL | Atacama Region / — | Mining, agricultural and general cargo |
| Mejillones | CLMJS | Mejillones / — | Bulk commodities, energy and mining-related cargo |
Central Chile
Central Chile is the principal container and general-cargo zone, serving the Santiago market, agricultural exporters and nationwide distribution.
Selected central ports
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valparaiso | CLVAP | Valparaiso / — | Containers, fruit, general cargo and vehicles |
| San Antonio | CLSAN | San Antonio / — | Containers, general cargo, vehicles and agricultural exports |
| Val Paraiso | CLVAL | — / — | Port and logistics reference for central Chile |
| Cartagena | CLCGN | Valparaiso Region / — | General, liquid and regional cargo |
| Quintero | CLQTV | Quintero / — | Energy, liquid bulk and industrial cargo |
Central-Southern Chile
The central-southern cluster supports forestry, pulp, agricultural products, industrial cargo, containers and coastal distribution.
Selected central-southern ports
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lirquen | CLLIR | — / — | Containers, forestry products and general cargo |
| Talcahuano | CLTAL | Talcahuano / — | Containers, industrial and general cargo |
| San Vicente | CLSVE | San Vicente / — | Forestry products, containers and bulk cargo |
| Coronel | CLCOR | Coronel / — | Forestry, bulk, containers and industrial cargo |
| Lota | CLLOT | Lota / — | Regional and industrial cargo |
| Puerto Montt | CLPMC | Puerto Montt / — | Fisheries, aquaculture, food and regional cargo |
Southern Chile and Patagonia
Southern and Patagonian facilities serve fisheries, aquaculture, energy, project cargo, regional supply and coastal connections.
Selected southern ports
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Punta Arenas | CLPUQ | Punta Arenas / — | Regional supply, energy and project cargo |
| Punta Arenas | CLPAR | Punta Arenas / — | Southern regional and coastal cargo |
| Puerto Montt | CLPMO | Puerto Montt / — | Aquaculture, fisheries, food and regional cargo |
| Puerto Bories | CLPBO | Puerto Bories / — | Regional, project and tourism-related cargo |
| Puerto Natales | CLPNA | Puerto Natales / — | Regional supply and southern coastal cargo |
Chile UN/LOCODE and Port Code Guide
UN/LOCODE is used by shipping lines, forwarders, customs systems and logistics platforms to identify transport locations. The following examples use the CL country prefix found in the indexed Chile sample.
City-Level and Terminal-Level References
A location code may represent a port area, city or operational facility depending on the source and implementation. Similar names can have separate codes, so the exact code, terminal, carrier routing and cargo requirements should be checked before booking.
How to Verify a Chile Port Code
Check the location against UNECE and compare it with the Ecer Freight port code directory. The code should match the shipping instruction, bill of lading, booking confirmation and destination terminal.
Shipping from Chile: Main Trade Lanes
Indicative routing below reflects common commercial patterns. Transit times vary by carrier rotation, transshipment, season, port congestion, equipment availability, customs processes and final inland destination.
Chile to East Asia
Container services connect Chilean fruit, minerals, food, forestry products and manufactured imports with Asian markets, often through direct or transshipment networks.
Chile to North America
North American lanes support agricultural exports, food products, minerals, consumer goods and industrial cargo moving between Chile and Pacific or Atlantic gateway networks.
Chile to Europe
Europe-bound cargo commonly includes fresh and processed food, wine, forestry products, minerals and general merchandise, with schedules subject to carrier rotations.
Chile to Latin America
Regional services support containerized consumer goods, mining inputs, agricultural cargo, vehicles and project shipments along the Pacific coast and beyond.
Chile Port Data Methodology and Sources
The page separates Ecer Freight indexed coverage from official national statistics and carrier or port-level performance data. Time-sensitive figures should be confirmed before quoting, booking or publishing a shipment schedule.
- Ecer Freight Ports Database — first-party database snapshot reviewed in Nov 2026, containing 80 indexed Chile ports and terminals.
- UNECE — reference framework for UN/LOCODE country and location identifiers.
- Chile Ministry of Transport and Telecommunications — official transport policy and available national maritime and port statistics.
- National Statistics Institute of Chile — official statistical reference for relevant national economic and transport indicators.
- DIRECTEMAR — Chilean maritime authority reference for maritime administration and port-related information.
Chile Seaport FAQ
How many seaports does Chile have?
Chile has 80 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in the Nov 2026 database snapshot. The figure represents indexed coverage and may differ from official classifications of port facilities.
What is the largest or busiest port in Chile?
San Antonio and Valparaiso are widely recognized as major central Chile cargo gateways, while the indexed sample identifies them as CLSAN and CLVAP. The exact busiest port depends on whether the comparison uses containers, total cargo, vessel calls or a specific reporting period.
What is the UN/LOCODE prefix for Chile?
The UN/LOCODE country prefix for Chile is CL. Examples in the Ecer Freight sample include CLARI for Arica, CLIQU for Iquique and CLSAN for San Antonio.
Which Chile regions are important for sea freight?
Central Chile is important for containers and general cargo, northern Chile is closely linked to mining and industrial supply chains, and central-southern and southern Chile support forestry, fisheries, aquaculture, food, energy and regional cargo.
Are Chile port statistics current for 2026?
The Ecer Freight indexed-port count is based on the Nov 2026 snapshot. Official throughput, TEU, berth and year-on-year figures are released on different schedules, so 2025 statistics and current operating conditions should be confirmed with the relevant authority, port or carrier.
How can a shipper request a Chile sea freight quote?
A quote request should specify origin and destination ports, cargo description, HS code where relevant, container type, weight, dimensions, Incoterm, preferred sailing date and whether the shipment is FCL or LCL. Current options can be reviewed through the FCL quote search or LCL quote search.
Editorial note: Chile port coverage is based on the Ecer Freight database snapshot reviewed in Nov 2026. Port codes and indexed facilities are maintained through database updates, while throughput, TEU, berth and carrier-service information is reviewed against available official or industry sources as they are released. Operational schedules, equipment availability, port restrictions and transit times remain subject to confirmation.
Ecer Freight · Seaports in Chile: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026) · Data reviewed quarterly · Port Codes · Ports by Country · Contact