Somalia has 11 ports and terminals indexed in the Ecer Freight database, supporting regional maritime trade across the Gulf of Aden and the western Indian Ocean.
Review Somalia port codes, cargo gateways, regional coverage and indicative shipping lanes for 2026 planning.
Somalia’s seaport network serves domestic consumption, livestock and agricultural trade, construction cargo, humanitarian supply chains and regional feeder connections. Nationally consolidated 2025 port statistics are not consistently published across all facilities, so indexed coverage and official throughput statistics are shown as separate measures.
How many seaports does Somalia have?
Somalia has 11 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in its November 2026 database snapshot.
Which is Somalia’s largest or busiest port?
Mogadishu, identified by UN/LOCODE SOMGQ, and Berbera, identified by UN/LOCODE SOBER, are among Somalia’s principal commercial gateways; a consistent national league table is not publicly available.
Which areas handle Somalia’s main seaborne freight?
The main freight clusters are the Mogadishu and southern coast, Berbera and the Gulf of Aden coast, and Kismayu in the lower Jubba area, with Bosaso serving northern regional trade.
The following indicative table follows the activity ordering of the Ecer Freight sample. Somalia-wide 2025 TEU rankings and comparable year-on-year figures are not consistently disclosed for these ports, so the three ranking fields are left together as unavailable rather than presenting partial statistics.
Indicative port coverage; not an official national TEU league table.
This cluster connects northern Somali coastal markets with Gulf of Aden and wider Indian Ocean services. Berbera and Bosaso are the most prominent commercial names in the indexed sample.
Ports and terminals indexed in the northern coastal cluster.
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berbera | SOBER | Berbera | General cargo, containers and regional distribution |
| Berbera | SOBBO | Berbera | Berbera-area port and terminal record |
| Bosaso | SOBOS | Bosaso | General cargo, livestock and regional trade |
| Alula | SOALU | Alula | Coastal and local cargo activity |
| Dante | SODAN | Dante | Local coastal port activity |
| Obbia | SOOBB | Obbia | Local coastal and general cargo activity |
Ports along the central and southern coastline support urban consumption centers, project cargo and coastal distribution. Cargo availability and operating conditions can vary by terminal and season.
Ports and terminals indexed in the central and southern coastal cluster.
Kismayu is the principal indexed gateway in the lower Jubba coastal area, with cargo flows linked to the city and surrounding agricultural and commercial hinterland.
Kismayu port records in the Ecer Freight sample.
Somalia UN/LOCODEs begin with the ISO country prefix SO and are followed by a three-character location identifier. Examples in the indexed sample include SOBER for Berbera, SOMGQ for Mogadishu and SOKIS for Kismayu.
A city may have more than one location record or terminal-related code. Kismayu appears as SOKIS and SOKMU, while Berbera appears as SOBER and SOBBO. The correct record should be confirmed against the bill of lading and carrier booking.
Check the current UNECE UN/LOCODE resources and compare the result with the Ecer Freight port directory before quoting or filing shipping documents.
Indicative routing reflects common regional network patterns. Actual schedules, transshipment points, equipment availability and transit times are subject to carrier confirmation.
Containerized and general cargo may connect through established Gulf hubs before onward delivery to the Middle East, South Asia or East Africa.
The Arabian Sea corridor supports regional imports, project cargo and feeder connections with Oman and nearby markets.
Regional shipping can serve East African markets through direct or feeder services, depending on the cargo type and sailing schedule.
Cargo for South Asia commonly uses Arabian Sea and Gulf transshipment networks, with routing selected according to equipment and final destination.
Port coverage, code presentation and indicative routing are maintained separately from official national throughput statistics. Time-sensitive figures should be confirmed with the relevant port authority, carrier or local agent.
Somalia has 11 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in the November 2026 database snapshot.
Mogadishu and Berbera are among the main commercial gateways. Their indexed UN/LOCODEs are SOMGQ and SOBER respectively, while port prominence can vary by cargo type and service availability.
The indexed UN/LOCODE for Mogadishu is SOMGQ. Shipping documents should still be checked against the carrier booking and current code directory.
The principal commercial clusters are the Gulf of Aden and northern coast, the Mogadishu and southern coast, and the lower Jubba coast around Kismayu.
Comparable consolidated 2025 TEU and cargo-throughput figures are not consistently published across the indexed Somalia facilities. Carrier, port-authority and local-agent confirmation is appropriate for a shipment-specific assessment.
Verify the SO-prefixed UN/LOCODE through current UNECE resources and compare it with the Ecer Freight port directory and the carrier’s booking instructions.
Provide the origin port, destination, commodity, container or shipment dimensions, gross weight, Incoterm and required departure window when requesting an FCL or LCL quotation.
Editorial note: Somalia port codes and indexed coverage are based on the Ecer Freight database snapshot reviewed in November 2026. Operational descriptions and trade-lane guidance are cross-checked against public maritime and international trade references and are updated as source availability changes. Throughput, schedules, security conditions and terminal operations remain subject to confirmation.
Ecer Freight · Seaports in Somalia: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026) · Data reviewed quarterly · Port Codes · Ports by Country · Contact
