PG Prefix and Three-Character Location Code
A Papua New Guinea UN/LOCODE begins with the country prefix PG, followed by a three-character location identifier. For example, PGLAE identifies Lae and PGPMO identifies Port Moresby.
Seaports in Papua New Guinea: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026)
Papua New Guinea has 54 ports and terminals indexed in the Ecer Freight database, supporting regional trade, resource exports and coastal supply chains across the country's mainland and island regions.
Explore Papua New Guinea port codes, principal cargo gateways and practical sea-freight planning information.
Papua New Guinea Port Overview
Papua New Guinea is a Pacific island trading market with port activity concentrated around Lae, Port Moresby and a network of regional and resource-linked terminals. Indexed coverage is broader than the number of internationally ranked container ports, and available public statistics are not always reported on a consistent national basis.
54
Papua New Guinea ports & terminals indexed in our database
Ecer Freight database · Nov 2026
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National port cargo throughput in tonnes, 2025 YoY: not consistently published
Official public data review · 2025
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National container throughput in TEU, 2025 YoY: no comparable public figure
Official public data review · 2025
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National commercial berth count, 2025 YoY: no consolidated public figure
Official port information review · 2025
How many seaports does Papua New Guinea have?
Papua New Guinea has 54 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in its Nov 2026 database snapshot. This is an indexed-coverage count, not a claim that all 54 locations are international container gateways.
Which port is a leading freight gateway in Papua New Guinea?
Lae, identified by UN/LOCODE PGLAE, is generally treated as one of Papua New Guinea's leading commercial freight gateways. Port Moresby, including PGPMO and the separately indexed PGPOM record, is another important national gateway.
Which regions handle important cargo flows?
The main cargo regions include the Lae and Morobe area, the Port Moresby and Motukea area, New Britain around Rabaul and Kimbe, and resource-linked locations such as Lihir. Service patterns and cargo roles are subject to confirmation.
Leading Papua New Guinea Ports by Freight Relevance
The table below uses the highest-ranked locations in the Ecer Freight country sample. Papua New Guinea does not have a consistently published, comparable 2025 container league table covering these individual locations; therefore rank, throughput and year-on-year fields are left unassigned rather than estimated.
Indexed leading ports and terminals; 2025 comparable TEU data
| World rank | Port | UN-LOCODE | 2025 throughput (M TEU) | YoY change | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Lae | PGLAE | — | — | Morobe |
| — | Port Moresby | PGPMO | — | — | National Capital District |
| — | Rabaul | PGRAB | — | — | East New Britain |
| — | Alotau | PGALO | — | — | Milne Bay |
| — | Lihir | PGLHR | — | — | New Ireland |
| — | Wewak | PGWEK | — | — | East Sepik |
| — | Buka | PGBUK | — | — | Bougainville |
| — | Motukea | PGMTK | — | — | Port Moresby |
Port Regions and Cargo Clusters
Southern Papua New Guinea
The southern group is anchored by Port Moresby and its nearby terminal facilities, with additional coastal locations serving local and project cargo.
Southern ports in the indexed sample
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port Moresby | PGPMO | Port Moresby / — | National capital gateway; container and general cargo |
| Port Moresby | PGPOM | Port Moresby / — | City-level port record; general cargo and supply chains |
| Motukea | PGMTK | Port Moresby / — | Dedicated terminal and project cargo support |
| Alotau | PGALO | Alotau / — | Regional general cargo and coastal distribution |
Morobe and Huon Gulf
The Morobe area is an important interface between inland production, coastal shipping and international freight services.
Morobe-area ports in the indexed sample
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lae | PGLAE | Lae / — | Major commercial freight gateway; containers and general cargo |
| Morobe | PGMOR | Morobe / — | Regional and resource-linked cargo |
| Salamaua | PGSAL | Salamaua / — | Local coastal and project supply |
| Finschhafen | PGFIN | Finschhafen / — | Regional general cargo |
New Britain and New Ireland
The island provinces depend on maritime links for food, consumer goods, industrial inputs and resource-related exports.
Island-region ports in the indexed sample
Northern and Bougainville Regions
Northern and autonomous-island locations support regional communities, coastal distribution and selected project or resource movements.
Northern and Bougainville ports in the indexed sample
Papua New Guinea Port Codes and UN/LOCODEs
UN/LOCODEs provide a standardized way to identify locations used in shipping documentation, booking systems and customs workflows.
City-Level and Terminal-Level Records
A city-level record and a terminal-level record may appear as separate entries in shipping databases. The indexed sample includes both Port Moresby records PGPMO and PGPOM; the booking party should confirm the exact facility required by the carrier.
How to Verify a Port Code
Check the location name, facility details and carrier booking instructions against the UNECE reference framework and the Ecer Freight port directory before preparing shipping documents.
Shipping from Papua New Guinea: Main Trade Lanes
Papua New Guinea sea freight is typically routed through regional transshipment hubs, with final schedules depending on vessel rotations, equipment availability, port operations and cargo type.
Papua New Guinea to Australia
Regular regional links connect Port Moresby and Lae with Australian gateways for manufactured goods, food products, project cargo and general imports.
Papua New Guinea to Southeast Asia
Southeast Asian services commonly support imports of consumer goods, machinery, building materials and industrial inputs, often with transshipment.
Papua New Guinea to East Asia
East Asian trade supports machinery, electronics, construction materials and manufactured imports, with schedules varying by direct call and transshipment options.
Domestic and Inter-Island Distribution
Coastal services link the main commercial gateways with island and regional locations such as Rabaul, Alotau, Wewak and Buka.
Data Sources and Methodology
The page separates Ecer Freight's indexed port coverage from externally reported throughput and infrastructure statistics. Figures are shown only where a comparable and sufficiently reliable public basis is available.
- Ecer Freight Ports Database — first-party database snapshot from Nov 2026, containing 54 Papua New Guinea port and terminal records.
- UNECE — reference framework for UN/LOCODE country and location-code interpretation.
- National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Maritime Safety Information — navigational and port-reference context, where available.
- PNG Ports Corporation — official port operator context and operational information, subject to publication and update schedules.
- Papua New Guinea National Statistical Office — national statistical context; port-level 2025 TEU and berth figures are not treated as comparable where no consolidated public series is available.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many seaports does Papua New Guinea have?
Papua New Guinea has 54 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight as of the Nov 2026 database snapshot. The figure represents indexed coverage and includes regional and terminal-level records.
What is the main freight port in Papua New Guinea?
Lae, code PGLAE, is generally regarded as one of Papua New Guinea's principal commercial freight gateways. Port Moresby, code PGPMO, is also a major national gateway.
What is the UN/LOCODE prefix for Papua New Guinea?
The UN/LOCODE country prefix for Papua New Guinea is PG. Examples in the indexed sample include PGLAE for Lae, PGPMO for Port Moresby and PGRAB for Rabaul.
Which Papua New Guinea regions have the most relevant port activity?
Important activity is concentrated around Lae and Morobe, Port Moresby and Motukea, New Britain locations such as Rabaul and Kimbe, and resource-linked locations such as Lihir. Regional service availability varies.
Are 2025 Papua New Guinea port throughput figures available?
Public 2025 figures are not consistently consolidated by individual port and cargo type. For that reason, this page does not estimate TEU, tonnage or year-on-year changes where a comparable official figure cannot be verified.
How can a shipper request a Papua New Guinea freight quote?
Shippers can compare available FCL or LCL options through the sea-freight quote pages. Final pricing depends on origin, destination, equipment, cargo details, sailing schedule, transshipment and local charges.
Should a port code be confirmed before booking?
Yes. The shipper should confirm the exact UN/LOCODE, terminal, city record and carrier routing before issuing shipping documents, particularly where a city has more than one indexed record.
Editorial note: Port coverage is based on the Ecer Freight database snapshot for Nov 2026. External port, navigational and statistical references are reviewed against publicly available institutional information, while route schedules, transit times and operational details remain subject to carrier confirmation. The page is reviewed and updated on a recurring quarterly basis.
Ecer Freight · Seaports in Papua New Guinea: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026) · Data reviewed quarterly · Port Codes · Ports by Country · Contact