CO Prefix and Three-Character Location Code
A Colombia UN/LOCODE begins with CO. For example, COCTA identifies the Cartagena entry and COBUE identifies the Buenaventura entry in the Ecer Freight sample.
Seaports in Colombia: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026)
Colombia has 34 ports and terminals indexed in this database, connecting Caribbean and Pacific gateways with regional import, export and transshipment markets.
Use Colombia port codes to identify ocean gateways, inland logistics points and cargo-routing options for international shipments.
Colombia Port Overview
Colombia has commercially important gateways on both the Caribbean and Pacific coasts. Cartagena, Buenaventura, Barranquilla and Santa Marta are the principal maritime clusters represented in the Ecer Freight port index.
34
Colombia ports & terminals indexed in our database
Ecer Freight database · Nov 2026
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National maritime cargo tonnage, 2025; consolidated YoY change not published in a single comparable official series
MinTransporte 2025 statistical sources
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National container throughput in TEU, 2025; consolidated YoY change not published in a single comparable official series
SuperTransporte 2025 statistics
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National commercial berth count, 2025; port-by-port definitions vary
SuperTransporte 2025 port information
How many seaports does Colombia have?
Colombia has 34 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in its Nov 2026 database snapshot. This is an indexed coverage count, not a legal census of every maritime facility.
Which is Colombia’s main container gateway?
Cartagena is generally regarded as Colombia’s leading container and transshipment gateway. The Ecer Freight sample identifies it with the UN/LOCODE COCTA.
Which regions handle most Colombia sea freight?
The Caribbean coast, led by Cartagena, Barranquilla and Santa Marta, and the Pacific coast, led by Buenaventura, handle the country’s principal maritime flows. Buenaventura is represented by COBUE.
Top Ports in Colombia
The table highlights the principal Colombia port entries in the Ecer Freight sample. World ranking and comparable 2025 TEU growth figures are shown only where a consistent public league-table series is available.
Principal Colombia cargo and container gateways
| World rank | Port | UN-LOCODE | 2025 throughput (M TEU) | YoY change | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Cartagena, Co | COCTA | — | — | Caribbean coast |
| — | Buenaventura | COBUE | — | — | Pacific coast |
| — | Barranquilla | COBAR | — | — | Caribbean coast |
| — | Santa Marta | COSMA | — | — | Caribbean coast |
| — | Puerto Bolivar | COPBO | — | — | Guajira coast |
| — | Turbo | COTRB | — | — | Uraba Gulf |
Colombia Port Regions
Caribbean Mainline Cluster
The Caribbean coast provides Colombia’s broadest range of container, breakbulk, dry-bulk and energy-related facilities.
Caribbean ports and terminals
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cartagena, Co | COCTA | Cartagena / — | Containers, transshipment and general cargo |
| Barranquilla | COBAR | — / — | Containers, bulk and general cargo |
| Santa Marta | COSMA | Santa Marta / — | Containers, agricultural and bulk cargo |
| Puerto Bolivar | COPBO | Puerto Bolivar / — | Dry bulk and energy-related cargo |
| Turbo | COTRB | Turbo / — | Regional agricultural and general cargo |
Pacific Coast
Buenaventura is Colombia’s principal Pacific maritime gateway, supporting cargo flows between the national interior and trans-Pacific services.
Pacific ports and terminals
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buenaventura | COBUE | Buenaventura / — | Containers, imports and Pacific exports |
| Buenaventura | COBUN | Buenaventura / — | Port and terminal reference for Pacific cargo |
| Tumaco | COTCO | Tumaco / — | Regional bulk and general cargo |
| Tumaco | COTUM | — / — | Regional maritime cargo |
River and Inland Logistics Points
Several indexed locations support inland distribution, river access or cargo positioning rather than functioning as ocean container gateways.
Inland and river-linked entries
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bogota | COBOG | Bogota / — | Inland cargo consolidation and distribution |
| Medellin | COMDE | — / — | Inland logistics and cargo distribution |
| Cali | COCLO | Cali / — | Interior distribution linked to Pacific trade |
| Barrancabermeja | COEJA | Barrancabermeja / — | River-linked and industrial cargo |
| Leticia | COLET | Leticia / — | Amazon river logistics |
Specialized and Island Locations
The indexed list also includes specialized petroleum, coastal and island locations whose operating profiles differ from major container terminals.
Specialized coastal and island entries
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pozos Colorados | COPCS | Santa Marta / — | Energy and liquid bulk operations |
| Covenas | COCOV | Covenas / — | Liquid bulk and energy cargo |
| San Andres Island | COADZ | San Andres Island / — | Island supply and general cargo |
| Riohacha | CORCH | Riohacha / — | Regional coastal cargo |
| Tolu | COTLU | Tolu / — | Coastal and regional cargo |
Colombia Port Codes and UN/LOCODEs
Colombia port identifiers use the ISO country prefix CO followed by a three-character location code. Verify the exact code against the booking, terminal and customs documentation before shipment release.
City-Level and Terminal-Level References
A city-level location and a specific terminal may appear as separate operational references. Booking instructions should therefore include the port name, code, terminal and carrier service where available.
How to Verify a Port Code
Compare the code with the UNECE UN/LOCODE reference and the current Ecer Freight port directory. Carrier booking systems may apply additional terminal identifiers.
Shipping from Colombia: Main Trade Lanes
Transit times vary by carrier rotation, transshipment, equipment availability, port congestion and final destination. The following lanes are indicative and require confirmation against a live sailing schedule.
Colombia to North America
Regular container services connect Caribbean gateways with the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Colombia to Europe
Caribbean services provide access to North European and Mediterranean markets, often with direct or transshipment routings.
Colombia to Asia
Pacific and Caribbean options can serve Asian supply chains, with routing selected according to cargo origin and transshipment plan.
Colombia to Latin America
Short-sea and regional services support cargo movements within the Caribbean, Central America and the west coast of South America.
Colombia Port Data Methodology
The page separates Ecer Freight indexed coverage from official cargo and container statistics. Port names and codes are drawn from the supplied Colombia database sample; traffic indicators are included only where a comparable public source can be identified.
- Ecer Freight Ports Database — first-party index containing 34 Colombia ports and terminals in the Nov 2026 snapshot.
- UNECE — UN/LOCODE structure and location-code reference.
- Colombia Superintendencia de Transporte — transport-sector and port information used for official-statistics cross-checking.
- Colombia Ministry of Transport — national transport policy and statistical-source context.
- DANE — Colombia’s official statistical agency for trade and economic-data context.
Colombia Port FAQ
How many seaports does Colombia have?
Colombia has 34 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in the Nov 2026 database snapshot. The figure represents indexed coverage rather than a statutory national census.
What is the largest or busiest port in Colombia?
Cartagena is generally considered Colombia’s leading container and transshipment gateway. Its Ecer Freight sample code is COCTA; current rankings and throughput should be confirmed against the latest port or carrier release.
What is the UN/LOCODE prefix for Colombia?
Colombia uses the two-letter UN/LOCODE country prefix CO. Examples in the indexed sample include COCTA for Cartagena and COBUE for Buenaventura.
Which Colombia regions are important for sea freight?
The Caribbean coast and Pacific coast are the principal maritime regions. Cartagena, Barranquilla and Santa Marta serve Caribbean flows, while Buenaventura is the leading Pacific gateway.
Are all 34 indexed locations ocean container ports?
No. The 34-location index includes seaports, terminals, specialized coastal facilities and inland or river-linked logistics points. Operational capability varies by location.
How current is the Colombia port information?
The database snapshot is dated Nov 2026 and the page is reviewed quarterly. Carrier schedules, terminal restrictions, port congestion and transit times remain subject to confirmation.
How can shippers request a Colombia sea-freight quote?
Shippers can compare FCL sea-freight rates or LCL sea-freight rates. A quote normally requires origin, destination, cargo details, volume, equipment and intended shipping date.
Editorial note: Colombia port codes and indexed locations are maintained from the Ecer Freight database and reviewed quarterly. Official port statistics, cargo volumes, rankings and carrier transit times may use different definitions and reporting periods; the latest available 2025 public data should be checked before commercial decisions.
Ecer Freight · Seaports in Colombia: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026) · Data reviewed quarterly · Port Codes · Ports by Country · Contact