SV Prefix and Three-Letter Location Code
El Salvador uses the country prefix SV. A complete UN/LOCODE such as SVACA combines the two-letter country prefix with a three-letter location identifier.
Seaports in El Salvador: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026)
El Salvador has 7 ports and terminals indexed in the Ecer Freight database, with Pacific and Gulf access supporting regional import, export and transshipment logistics.
Use verified UN/LOCODE records to identify El Salvador shipping points and compare available freight options.
El Salvador Port Overview
El Salvador is a compact Central American maritime market. Acajutla is the principal commercial seaport, while the indexed list also contains city-level, terminal-level and smaller coastal records. Indexed coverage should not be confused with a national port-authority count or a global container-port ranking.
7
El Salvador ports & terminals indexed in our database
Ecer Freight database · Nov 2026
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National maritime cargo volume, 2025 official comparable figure
CEPA · 2025 data availability varies by cargo category
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Container throughput in TEU, 2025 official comparable figure
CEPA · 2025 public series not consistently reported
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Commercial berth count, 2025 nationally comparable figure
CEPA · 2025 public series not consistently reported
How many seaports does El Salvador have?
El Salvador has 7 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in the November 2026 database snapshot. This is an indexed-coverage figure, not necessarily the statutory count used by a national port authority.
What is the largest or busiest port in El Salvador?
Acajutla, listed under UN/LOCODE SVACA, is generally regarded as El Salvador’s principal commercial seaport and the main maritime gateway for national cargo.
Which areas handle the main maritime cargo flows?
The main maritime concentration is on the Pacific coast around Acajutla, while Cutuco and La Union provide Gulf of Fonseca access. San Salvador and Santa Ana function primarily as inland commercial and logistics locations in the indexed dataset.
Top Ports and Terminals in El Salvador
The table below follows the activity order of the Ecer Freight sample. Public 2025 TEU and year-on-year series are not consistently available for every indexed location, so unverified league-table figures are not substituted.
Indexed port and terminal records, ordered by database activity priority
| World rank | Port | UN-LOCODE | 2025 throughput (M TEU) | YoY change | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | San Salvador | SVSAL | — | — | Central inland logistics |
| — | Acajutla | SVACA | — | — | Pacific coast |
| — | Acajutla | SVAQJ | — | — | Pacific coast |
| — | Santa Ana | SVSAN | — | — | Western inland logistics |
| — | Cutuco | SVCUT | — | — | Gulf of Fonseca |
| — | La Libertad | SVLLD | — | — | Central Pacific coast |
| — | La Union | SVLUN | — | — | Gulf of Fonseca |
El Salvador Port Regions and Cargo Roles
Pacific Coast
The Pacific coast is the country’s principal ocean-facing cargo corridor, led by Acajutla and supported by smaller coastal records.
Pacific coast indexed locations
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acajutla | SVACA | Acajutla | Principal commercial seaport; bulk, breakbulk and container-related cargo |
| Acajutla | SVAQJ | Acajutla | Related terminal or operational record |
| La Libertad | SVLLD | La Libertad | Coastal and local maritime activity |
Gulf of Fonseca
The eastern maritime cluster provides access to the Gulf of Fonseca and supports cargo flows connected with eastern El Salvador and nearby regional markets.
Gulf of Fonseca indexed locations
Inland Commercial and Logistics Locations
San Salvador and Santa Ana are inland cities in the indexed sample. They can appear in routing, documentation or inland distribution workflows, but they should not automatically be treated as ocean berths.
Inland indexed locations
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Salvador | SVSAL | San Salvador | Capital-city logistics, inland distribution and documentation |
| Santa Ana | SVSAN | Santa Ana | Western inland distribution and commercial activity |
El Salvador UN/LOCODE and Port Code Guide
UN/LOCODE records help carriers, forwarders and customs teams align place names across booking, transport and trade documents.
City-Level and Terminal-Level Records
A city-level code and a terminal-level code may represent different operational records. Confirm the exact place, facility, cargo type and carrier acceptance before using a code on shipping documents.
How to Verify a Port Code
Cross-check the location against the UNECE UN/LOCODE framework and compare it with the latest records in the Ecer Freight port directory.
Shipping from El Salvador: Main Trade Lanes
El Salvador’s ocean freight is commonly arranged through Pacific gateways, with final routing depending on vessel schedules, transshipment hubs, cargo type and inland delivery requirements.
El Salvador to North America
Regular container planning typically connects Acajutla-area cargo with North American gateway ports, often using direct or transshipment services subject to carrier schedules.
El Salvador to Europe
Europe-bound shipments generally require a transshipment connection, with transit determined by the selected Central American or Caribbean service pattern.
El Salvador to Asia
Asia services are generally transshipment-based and may route through Pacific or regional hub ports before reaching the final destination.
Central America and Gulf of Fonseca
Regional cargo can use Pacific and eastern maritime access points, with inland trucking often forming part of the end-to-end route.
Data Sources and Methodology
Port coverage, code presentation and trade guidance are separated from official national statistics. Where a consistently comparable 2025 public figure could not be verified, the page does not estimate the value.
- Ecer Freight Ports Database — first-party snapshot of 7 El Salvador port and terminal records, reviewed in Nov 2026.
- UNECE — UN/LOCODE naming and location-code reference framework.
- CEPA — El Salvador port administration and infrastructure information; cargo and berth figures depend on the published reporting series.
- Central Reserve Bank of El Salvador — national economic and trade context used for cross-checking macroeconomic references.
- National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency — maritime location and navigational reference context.
El Salvador Port FAQ
How many seaports does El Salvador have?
El Salvador has 7 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in the Nov 2026 database snapshot. The figure represents indexed coverage and may differ from a port authority’s statutory count.
What is the main commercial port in El Salvador?
Acajutla is generally the main commercial seaport in El Salvador. The Ecer Freight sample includes Acajutla under SVACA and SVAQJ, which may represent separate operational records.
What is the UN/LOCODE prefix for El Salvador?
The UN/LOCODE country prefix for El Salvador is SV. Examples in the indexed sample include SVACA, SVCUT and SVLUN.
Which regions are important for El Salvador sea freight?
The Pacific coast around Acajutla is the main ocean freight corridor. Cutuco and La Union provide eastern Gulf of Fonseca access, while San Salvador and Santa Ana are inland logistics locations in the indexed dataset.
Are 2025 throughput figures available for every indexed location?
No. A consistently comparable official 2025 TEU series is not publicly available for every indexed location, so unverified throughput and year-on-year figures are shown as unavailable rather than estimated.
How can a shipper request an El Salvador sea freight quote?
Provide the origin location, destination, cargo description, container or shipment volume, preferred sailing window and delivery terms when requesting a quote. FCL and LCL options should be compared separately because routing and consolidation schedules differ.
Should an inland code be used as an ocean port of loading?
Not automatically. San Salvador and Santa Ana are inland locations in the indexed sample. The actual ocean port of loading should be confirmed with the carrier, forwarder and shipping documents before booking.
Editorial note: Port codes and indexed coverage are based on the Ecer Freight database snapshot for Nov 2026. Official cargo, TEU and infrastructure figures are checked against publicly available national or port-authority material where a comparable series exists. Trade-lane descriptions and transit times are indicative and should be confirmed against the carrier schedule, routing, cargo details and final delivery location.
Ecer Freight · Seaports in El Salvador: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026) · Data reviewed quarterly · Port Codes · Ports by Country · Contact