GT Prefix and Three-Letter Location Code
A Guatemala UN/LOCODE begins with the country prefix GT and is followed by a three-character location identifier. Examples in the indexed sample include GTPRQ for Puerto Quetzal and GTPBR for Puerto Barrios.
Seaports in Guatemala: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026)
Guatemala has 12 ports and terminals indexed in the Ecer Freight database, supporting Pacific and Caribbean maritime trade through Puerto Quetzal, Puerto Barrios and other logistics locations.
Review Guatemala port codes, cargo gateways, regional roles and indicative shipping lanes in one country-level reference.
Guatemala Port Overview
Guatemala has maritime access on both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. Puerto Quetzal is the principal Pacific gateway, while Puerto Barrios and nearby Santo Tomás de Castilla serve Caribbean-facing cargo flows. Database coverage and international throughput rankings are separate measures.
12
Guatemala ports & terminals indexed in our database
Ecer Freight database · Nov 2026
—
2025 national port cargo tonnage; YoY change not published in a consistently comparable public series
Guatemala port authorities · 2025
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2025 container throughput in TEU; YoY change not published in a consistently comparable public series
Guatemala port authorities · 2025
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2025 commercial berth count; YoY change not published in a consistently comparable public series
Guatemala port authorities · 2025
How many seaports does Guatemala have?
Guatemala has 12 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in its country port database as of November 2026.
Which is Guatemala's main Pacific cargo gateway?
Puerto Quetzal, UN/LOCODE GTPRQ, is Guatemala's principal Pacific-facing cargo gateway and handles a broad mix of containerized, bulk and general cargo.
Which areas handle Guatemala's main maritime cargo flows?
The main maritime clusters are the Pacific coast around Puerto Quetzal (GTPRQ) and the Caribbean side around Puerto Barrios (GTPBR), with Livingston (GTLIV) also represented in the indexed port sample.
Top Guatemala Ports by Freight Role
The table below is a country-level working view of the most prominent freight locations in the indexed sample. World ranking, 2025 throughput and year-on-year change are shown as unavailable where no consistently comparable public figure could be verified. This is not a claim that the locations have zero activity.
Indexed freight locations and indicative international ranking fields
| World rank | Port | UN-LOCODE | 2025 throughput (M TEU) | YoY change | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Puerto Quetzal | GTPRQ | — | — | Pacific coast |
| — | Puerto Barrios | GTPBR | — | — | Caribbean coast |
| — | Livingston | GTLIV | — | — | Caribbean coast |
| — | Champerico | GTCHA | — | — | Pacific coast |
| — | San Jose | GTSNJ | — | — | Pacific coast |
| — | Guatemala | GTGUA | — | — | Inland logistics location |
Guatemala Port Regions and Cargo Clusters
Pacific Coast
Pacific-facing locations support Guatemala's access to west-coast liner networks, agricultural exports, bulk commodities and general cargo.
Pacific coast indexed locations
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puerto Quetzal | GTPRQ | Puerto Quetzal / — | Container, bulk and general cargo gateway |
| Champerico | GTCHA | Champerico / — | Pacific coastal and general cargo role |
| San Jose | GTSNJ | San Jose / — | Pacific-side cargo and logistics location |
Caribbean Coast
The Caribbean cluster connects Guatemala with Atlantic and Caribbean shipping services and serves cargo moving through the Izabal area.
Caribbean coast indexed locations
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puerto Barrios | GTPBR | Puerto Barrios / — | Caribbean container and general cargo gateway |
| Livingston | GTLIV | Livingston / — | Caribbean coastal and regional cargo role |
Guatemala City and Inland Logistics
Inland locations in the indexed sample should be treated as logistics or cargo-market references rather than ocean berths. Final routing normally connects them by road to a Pacific or Caribbean gateway.
Inland indexed logistics locations
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guatemala | GTGUA | Guatemala / — | Inland cargo and documentation reference |
| Mixco | GTMIX | Mixco / — | Inland distribution and logistics reference |
| Palin | GTPAL | Palin / — | Inland industrial and road-feeder role |
| San Jose Pinula | GTSJP | San Jose Pinula / — | Inland logistics reference |
| Santo Tomas Milpas Altas | GTSTM | Ciudad De Guatemala / — | Inland cargo-market reference |
| Chinautla | GTCNT | Chinautla / — | Inland distribution reference |
| Villa Canales | GTVLL | Villa Canales / — | Inland logistics and road-feeder role |
Guatemala Port Codes and UN/LOCODE Structure
City-Level and Terminal-Level References
A location code can identify a city, port area, inland logistics point or terminal reference. It should not automatically be interpreted as proof of a seagoing berth, especially for inland locations such as Guatemala or Mixco.
How to Verify a Guatemala Code
Check the code against the UNECE UN/LOCODE framework and compare it with the current Ecer Freight port directory. Carrier booking systems may apply additional terminal or service codes.
Shipping from Guatemala: Main Trade Lanes
Guatemala's sea-freight routing depends on the cargo's inland origin, the selected Pacific or Caribbean gateway, carrier rotation and transshipment requirements. Transit times are indicative and subject to confirmation.
Guatemala to North America
Pacific and Caribbean gateways can serve containerized cargo moving to the United States, Canada and Mexico, with routing determined by carrier schedules.
Guatemala to Central America
Shorter regional services and feeder connections support trade with Central American markets, subject to sailing frequency and transshipment design.
Guatemala to Europe
Europe-bound containers commonly use scheduled ocean services from the Pacific or Caribbean side and may require a hub connection.
Guatemala to Asia
Asia-bound cargo generally follows long-haul Pacific or Caribbean-linked services, with transit time affected by vessel rotation and transshipment.
Data Sources and Methodology
- Ecer Freight Ports Database — first-party directory containing 12 Guatemala ports and terminals in the November 2026 snapshot.
- United Nations Economic Commission for Europe — UN/LOCODE structure and location-code reference framework.
- National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency — maritime geographic reference and port-identification context.
- Empresa Portuaria Quetzal — Pacific port authority context and operational information.
- Empresa Portuaria Nacional Santo Tomás de Castilla — Caribbean port authority context and operational information.
Frequently Asked Questions About Guatemala Ports
How many seaports does Guatemala have?
Guatemala has 12 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight as of the November 2026 database snapshot. The indexed total includes maritime and inland logistics references and is not a worldwide port-ranking total.
What is the main port in Guatemala?
Puerto Quetzal (GTPRQ) is the principal Pacific cargo gateway in the indexed sample. Puerto Barrios (GTPBR) is an important Caribbean-facing location.
What is the UN/LOCODE prefix for Guatemala?
The UN/LOCODE country prefix for Guatemala is GT. Examples include GTPRQ for Puerto Quetzal, GTPBR for Puerto Barrios and GTGUA for Guatemala.
Which regions handle Guatemala's ocean freight?
Guatemala's ocean freight is concentrated on the Pacific coast around Puerto Quetzal and on the Caribbean side around Puerto Barrios and Livingston. Inland cargo locations connect to these gateways by road.
How current is the Guatemala port data?
The first-party database snapshot is dated November 2026, while the most recent complete statistical year used for comparison is 2025. Port schedules, services and operational conditions remain subject to confirmation.
Are the indexed locations all ocean container terminals?
No. The 12-location indexed coverage includes maritime ports, port references and inland logistics locations. A location such as Guatemala or Mixco should not be assumed to have an ocean berth.
How can shippers request a Guatemala sea-freight quote?
Shippers can compare available FCL sea-freight rates or LCL sea-freight rates. A confirmed quotation normally requires origin, destination, cargo details, equipment, incoterms and requested sailing date.
Editorial note: This guide combines the Ecer Freight port directory with public maritime and port-authority references. Indexed coverage is reviewed against database updates, while operational schedules, throughput statistics and transit times are subject to source availability and periodic revision.
Ecer Freight · Seaports in Guatemala: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026) · Data reviewed quarterly · Port Codes · Ports by Country · Contact