CH Prefix and Three-Letter Location Code
Swiss UN/LOCODEs begin with the two-letter country prefix CH, followed by a three-character location identifier. For example, CHBSL identifies Basel in the indexed port database.
Seaports in Switzerland: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026)
Switzerland has 12 ports and terminals indexed in this database, with Basel serving as the country’s principal Rhine-linked inland gateway for international maritime freight.
Switzerland is landlocked, so its ocean cargo generally moves through inland waterway and rail-road connections to North Sea and Mediterranean gateway ports.
Switzerland Port Overview
Switzerland’s port network is primarily an inland logistics system. Basel and nearby Rhine facilities connect Swiss importers and exporters with seaborne services via major European gateway ports, while other indexed locations represent inland, lake or logistics nodes.
12
Switzerland ports & terminals indexed in our database
Ecer Freight database · Nov 2026
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National seaport cargo tonnage, 2025; comparable YoY figure not published
Swiss Federal Statistical Office · 2025
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National seaport container throughput, 2025; comparable YoY figure not published
Swiss Federal Statistical Office · 2025
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National seaport berth count, 2025; no harmonized national series published
Swiss Federal Office of Transport · 2025
How many seaports does Switzerland have?
Switzerland has 12 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight. Because Switzerland is landlocked, this indexed coverage includes Rhine, inland-waterway, lake and inland logistics facilities rather than ocean-facing seaports.
What is Switzerland’s main freight port?
Basel, identified by UN/LOCODE CHBSL, is Switzerland’s principal freight gateway for Rhine-connected maritime logistics and is the leading port node in the indexed sample.
Which areas handle Switzerland’s main port-related cargo?
The Basel and Upper Rhine logistics area handles the most important port-related cargo flows, while Zurich and the Lake Geneva region function mainly as inland distribution and regional logistics clusters.
Top Switzerland Ports and Freight Nodes
The table ranks the most active locations in the indexed Switzerland sample by practical freight relevance. Switzerland has no ocean container-port league table of its own; 2025 TEU and year-on-year figures are therefore shown as unavailable where no comparable official port-level series is published.
Indexed freight nodes ranked by local logistics importance; 2025 national-comparable TEU data is not published for these inland and lake locations.
Switzerland Port Regions and Logistics Clusters
Basel and Upper Rhine
The Basel area is Switzerland’s core inland-waterway gateway. Facilities in and around Basel connect Rhine barge operations with rail, road and European ocean-port services.
Basel and nearby Rhine-linked locations
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basel | CHBSL | Basel/mulhouse / — | Rhine-linked container, bulk and general cargo gateway |
| Birsfelden | CHBFL | Birsfelden / — | Rhine terminal and industrial cargo support |
| Pratteln | CHATT | Pratteln / — | Inland distribution and industrial logistics |
| Koblenz | CHLEN | Aargau / — | Rhine corridor and regional cargo flows |
Zurich and Central Inland Logistics
Zurich and nearby inland locations support high-value manufacturing, consumer distribution and multimodal freight connected to European ocean gateways by rail and road.
Zurich-area and central inland nodes
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zurich | CHZRH | Zurich / — | Inland freight distribution and intermodal cargo |
| Embrach | CHEBH | Embrach / — | Regional logistics and inland cargo handling |
| Lindau | CHLIU | Zurich / — | Local inland and distribution activity |
| Bern | CHBRN | Bern / — | Central Swiss regional freight distribution |
Lake Geneva and Western Switzerland
Western Switzerland’s indexed locations serve regional distribution and lake-related logistics functions rather than direct ocean shipping.
Lake Geneva regional locations
Switzerland Port Codes and UN/LOCODEs
City-Level and Terminal-Level Codes
A city-level code can cover a wider logistics area, while a terminal or facility code may identify a more specific operating location. The distinction should be checked before booking documents are prepared.
How to Verify a Code
Verify the location against the UNECE reference system and compare it with the Ecer Freight Port Codes directory before using it on a bill of lading or customs document.
Shipping from Switzerland: Main Trade Lanes
Switzerland’s sea-freight routing is typically organized through inland gateways and European ocean ports. Transit times depend on the ocean gateway, rail or barge schedule, customs handling, equipment availability and final destination.
Switzerland to North Europe
Basel-linked cargo commonly connects by Rhine barge, rail or road with North European gateway services.
Switzerland to Mediterranean
Western and southern Swiss cargo may use rail-road corridors to Mediterranean gateway services.
Switzerland to Asia
Asian exports generally move from Swiss inland nodes to a European gateway before the mainline ocean leg.
Switzerland to North America
North American shipments generally use North European or Mediterranean gateways with onward ocean services.
Data Sources and Methodology
- Ecer Freight Ports Database — first-party index of 12 Switzerland ports and terminals, snapshot November 2026.
- UNECE — UN/LOCODE structure and location-code reference framework.
- Swiss Federal Statistical Office — official transport and freight statistics where a national 2025 series is available.
- Swiss Federal Office of Transport — Swiss inland-waterway, rail and transport-policy reference information.
- Port of Switzerland — Basel and Swiss Rhine-port operational context.
Switzerland Port FAQ
How many seaports does Switzerland have?
Switzerland has 12 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight. The indexed set includes inland-waterway, lake and inland logistics locations because Switzerland has no ocean coastline.
What is the largest or busiest port in Switzerland?
Basel, UN/LOCODE CHBSL, is generally regarded as Switzerland’s principal freight port and Rhine gateway. Its role is inland and multimodal rather than ocean-facing.
What do Switzerland port codes begin with?
Switzerland port and location codes begin with the ISO country prefix CH, followed by three location characters, such as CHBSL for Basel and CHZRH for Zurich.
Which regions are most important for Switzerland port logistics?
The Basel and Upper Rhine corridor is the main port-related freight cluster. Zurich and central inland logistics areas, together with the Lake Geneva region, provide additional distribution capacity.
Does Switzerland have official container throughput rankings?
Switzerland does not have an ocean-port container ranking comparable with coastal countries. Public statistics generally describe inland waterway, rail, road or facility activity, so port-level 2025 TEU comparisons may not be available.
How current is the Switzerland port data?
The Ecer Freight indexed coverage is based on a November 2026 data snapshot. Official statistics are shown using the latest complete reporting year available, with 2025 preferred where published.
How can shippers request a Switzerland sea-freight quote?
Shippers can compare available FCL and LCL options through the freight-rate tools, or provide origin, destination, cargo details, equipment and required timing for a tailored quotation.
Editorial note: This Switzerland port guide combines Ecer Freight’s indexed port-code database with public transport, location-code and port information. Indexed coverage is reviewed and updated periodically, while official throughput and transport indicators follow the publication cycle of the relevant authority.
Ecer Freight · Seaports in Switzerland: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026) · Data reviewed quarterly · Port Codes · Ports by Country · Contact