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Seaports in Western Sahara: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026)

Western Sahara has 2 ports and terminals indexed in the Ecer Freight database, supporting Atlantic-facing cargo movements and regional maritime supply chains subject to carrier and port confirmation.

Review indexed port codes, available regional coverage and indicative sea-freight routing information for Western Sahara.

Western Sahara Port Overview

The indexed port set is limited to two entries. Publicly comparable 2025 throughput, container and berth statistics are not consistently available for these locations, so operational figures should be confirmed with the port, carrier or local agent.

2 Western Sahara ports & terminals indexed in our database Ecer Freight database · Nov 2026
— Official cargo volume in tonnes, 2025; YoY change: — No comparable official public series · 2025
— Official container throughput in TEU, 2025; YoY change: — No comparable official public series · 2025
— Official berth count, 2025; YoY change: — No comparable official public series · 2025

How many seaports does Western Sahara have?

Western Sahara has 2 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight: Dakhla (EHDAK) and Laayoune (EHLAA).

Which port is the largest or busiest in Western Sahara?

Dakhla (EHDAK) is the leading indexed entry in the Ecer Freight sample by business activity ordering; a comparable public 2025 throughput ranking is not available.

Which areas handle the main maritime cargo flows?

The indexed maritime coverage is concentrated around Dakhla (EHDAK) in the south and Laayoune (EHLAA) farther north along the Atlantic coast.

Top Ports in Western Sahara by Indexed Coverage

This table reflects the two real ports in the Ecer Freight sample, ordered by indexed business activity. It is not a substitute for a global container-port league table.

Western Sahara port ranking and 2025 public-data availability

World rank Port UN-LOCODE 2025 throughput (M TEU) YoY change Region
— Dakhla EHDAK — — Southern Atlantic coast
— Laayoune EHLAA — — Northern Atlantic coast

Western Sahara Port Regions and Cargo Roles

Southern Atlantic Coast

Dakhla is the southern indexed port entry and may support regional general cargo, fisheries-related logistics and project movements, subject to berth and service confirmation.

Ports in the Southern Atlantic Coast group

Port UN-LOCODE City / Province Main cargo role
Dakhla EHDAK — / — Regional general cargo, fisheries-related and project logistics

Northern Atlantic Coast

Laayoune is the northern indexed port entry and can be relevant to coastal supply chains and bulk or general cargo movements, with services dependent on local operating conditions.

Ports in the Northern Atlantic Coast group

Port UN-LOCODE City / Province Main cargo role
Laayoune EHLAA Laayoune / — Coastal general cargo and regional supply-chain movements

Indexed Western Sahara Coastal Network

The national indexed network consists of two Atlantic-facing port entries. The database coverage count should not be interpreted as a complete measure of all maritime facilities or cargo-handling sites.

All ports indexed for Western Sahara

Port UN-LOCODE City / Province Main cargo role
Dakhla EHDAK — / — Southern regional maritime gateway
Laayoune EHLAA Laayoune / — Northern coastal cargo gateway

Western Sahara UN/LOCODE Guide

EH Prefix and Five-Character Structure

Western Sahara port codes use the EH country prefix followed by a three-character location identifier. The indexed examples are EHDAK for Dakhla and EHLAA for Laayoune.

City-Level and Terminal-Level Codes

A UN/LOCODE may identify a city, port area or specific transport facility. A city-level code and a terminal or berth reference should not be treated as interchangeable without checking the shipping instruction.

How to Verify a Port Code

Verify the code against the UNECE reference and compare it with the current Ecer Freight port directory before submitting a booking or quotation request.

Shipping from Western Sahara: Main Trade Lanes

Indicative routings are planning references only. Sailing frequency, transshipment, equipment availability and customs requirements are subject to confirmation.

Dakhla to Northern Europe

A potential Atlantic routing for general cargo and project shipments, commonly involving transshipment through a larger regional gateway.

Main origin portsDakhla (EHDAK)
Main destination portsRotterdam, Antwerp and Hamburg
Indicative transit timeTypically 18–30 days, subject to routing

Laayoune to Iberia

A short-to-medium Atlantic and western Mediterranean trade pattern for cargo moving toward Spain and nearby European distribution points.

Main origin portsLaayoune (EHLAA)
Main destination portsAlgeciras, Valencia and Barcelona
Indicative transit timeTypically 7–18 days, subject to service

Dakhla to West Africa

Regional southbound shipping may connect Dakhla with West African hubs through direct or transshipment services depending on the carrier network.

Main origin portsDakhla (EHDAK)
Main destination portsDakar, Abidjan and Tema
Indicative transit timeTypically 8–20 days, subject to transshipment

Laayoune to Mediterranean Hubs

Northbound and eastbound movements can use Mediterranean hub ports for onward distribution, with schedules varying by cargo type and carrier.

Main origin portsLaayoune (EHLAA)
Main destination portsGenoa, Marseille and Piraeus
Indicative transit timeTypically 12–25 days, subject to routing

Data Sources and Methodology

The page separates Ecer Freight indexed coverage from externally reported port activity. Where a reliable, comparable 2025 public figure was not identified, the relevant field is shown as unavailable rather than estimated.

  1. Ecer Freight Ports Database — first-party directory snapshot from Nov 2026, with 2 Western Sahara ports and terminals indexed.
  2. UNECE — UN/LOCODE structure and location-code reference.
  3. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency — maritime geographic reference used for port-location cross-checking.
  4. UN Trade and Development — international maritime transport and trade-statistics context.
  5. Public port and transport releases — reviewed for comparable 2025 cargo, TEU and berth figures; no consistent official series was identified for the indexed locations.

Western Sahara Port FAQ

How many seaports does Western Sahara have?

Western Sahara has 2 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight. The indexed entries are Dakhla (EHDAK) and Laayoune (EHLAA).

Which is the main port in Western Sahara?

Dakhla (EHDAK) is the leading indexed port entry by the database activity order. Publicly comparable throughput data should be confirmed before using it as a formal busiest-port ranking.

What are the port codes for Western Sahara?

The Ecer Freight sample includes EHDAK for Dakhla and EHLAA for Laayoune. Both codes use the EH prefix associated with Western Sahara in the indexed directory.

Which regions handle Western Sahara sea freight?

The indexed coverage is concentrated along the Atlantic coast, with Dakhla representing the southern area and Laayoune representing the northern area.

How current is the Western Sahara port data?

The Ecer Freight database snapshot is from Nov 2026, while the latest complete statistical reference year is 2025. Schedules, port services and operational figures remain subject to confirmation.

Are Western Sahara port rankings based on container throughput?

No. The indexed ordering reflects Ecer Freight business activity coverage. It should not be confused with a global TEU league table, especially where no comparable official 2025 throughput figure is available.

How can shippers request a Western Sahara sea-freight quote?

Shippers can request indicative FCL or LCL pricing through the relevant quote pages. Final rates depend on cargo details, equipment, routing, transshipment, port services and current carrier acceptance.

Editorial note: Port codes and indexed coverage are maintained from the Ecer Freight database and reviewed against available public maritime references. The page is updated quarterly, while operational schedules, rates and port statistics may change between publication cycles.

Ecer Freight · Seaports in Western Sahara: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026) · Data reviewed quarterly · Port Codes · Ports by Country · Contact