CO Prefix and Three-Character Location Code
Colombia uses the country prefix CO, followed by a three-character location identifier. For example, COCTA refers to Cartagena, while COBUN refers to Buenaventura.
Seaports in Colombia: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026)
Colombia has 34 ports and terminals indexed in the Ecer Freight database, supporting container, bulk, energy and general-cargo trade on the Caribbean and Pacific coasts.
Use verified UN/LOCODE references and current market context to plan ocean freight through Colombia.
Colombia Port Overview
Colombia has a two-ocean maritime position, with major gateway activity concentrated around Cartagena, Buenaventura, Barranquilla and Santa Marta. The figures below distinguish Ecer Freight’s indexed coverage from national or port-authority operating statistics.
34
Colombia ports & terminals indexed in our database
Ecer Freight database · Oct 2026
—
National maritime cargo tonnage, 2025; consolidated official figure pending
Supertransporte · 2025 reporting cycle
—
National container throughput in TEU, 2025; consolidated official figure pending
Supertransporte · 2025 reporting cycle
—
National commercial-berth total, 2025; no single consolidated public series
DIMAR / Supertransporte · 2025
How many seaports does Colombia have?
Colombia has 34 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in its Oct 2026 database snapshot. This is an indexed-coverage count, not a statutory count of every maritime facility in Colombia.
What is Colombia’s largest container gateway?
Cartagena is generally Colombia’s leading container gateway by international liner connectivity and transshipment role. The principal indexed reference is Cartagena, Co (COCTA); terminal-level totals should be confirmed for the shipment year.
Which regions handle most Colombia freight?
The Caribbean cluster around Cartagena (COCTA), Barranquilla (COBAR) and Santa Marta (COSMA), together with the Pacific gateway of Buenaventura (COBUN/COBUE), handles the principal ocean-freight flows. Bulk and energy cargo also move through specialist locations such as Puerto Bolivar (COPBO).
Top Colombia Ports by Operating Role
This reference table covers the leading indexed gateways and specialist cargo locations. Colombia does not publish one consistently comparable 2025 global league table covering every listed facility; therefore, comparable world rank, throughput and year-on-year fields are shown as unavailable where a verified consolidated figure is not available.
Selected Colombia gateways and terminals, latest comparable 2025 data availability
| World rank | Port | UN-LOCODE | 2025 throughput (M TEU) | YoY change | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Cartagena, Co | COCTA | — | — | Caribbean coast |
| — | Buenaventura | COBUN | — | — | Pacific coast |
| — | Barranquilla | COBAR | — | — | Caribbean coast |
| — | Buenaventura | COBUE | — | — | Pacific coast |
| — | Santa Marta | COSMA | — | — | Caribbean coast |
| — | Puerto Bolivar | COPBO | — | — | La Guajira |
Colombia Port Regions and Cargo Clusters
Colombia’s port geography is best understood through Caribbean, Pacific and specialist coastal clusters. Inland locations in the database are retained separately because they may represent logistics, customs or river-connected cargo points rather than ocean berths.
Caribbean Gateway Cluster
The Caribbean coast provides the broadest concentration of liner services, transshipment, general cargo and dry-bulk activity.
Indexed Caribbean ports and terminals
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cartagena, Co | COCTA | Cartagena / — | Containers, transshipment and general cargo |
| Barranquilla | COBAR | — / — | Containers, bulk and project cargo |
| Santa Marta | COSMA | Santa Marta / — | Containers, bulk and agricultural cargo |
| Puerto Bolivar | COPBO | Puerto Bolivar / — | Specialist bulk and energy cargo |
| Turbo | COTRB | Turbo / — | Regional agricultural and general cargo |
Pacific Gateway Cluster
Buenaventura is Colombia’s principal Pacific maritime gateway and provides access for cargo moving between the Pacific basin and the country’s inland industrial markets.
Indexed Pacific ports and terminals
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buenaventura | COBUN | Buenaventura / — | Containers, imports and Pacific trade |
| Buenaventura | COBUE | Buenaventura / — | Terminal-level port reference |
| Tumaco | COTCO | Tumaco / — | Regional coastal and bulk cargo |
| Tumaco | COTUM | — / — | Local maritime and terminal reference |
River, Inland and Logistics Connections
Inland entries should not automatically be treated as seaports. They may support origin consolidation, domestic distribution, river movement or customs routing before or after an ocean leg.
Selected inland and river-connected references
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barrancabermeja | COEJA | Barrancabermeja / — | River-linked and industrial cargo |
| Puerto Berrio | COPBE | Puerto Berrio / — | River and inland logistics |
| Leticia | COLET | Leticia / — | Amazon river logistics |
| Bogota | COBOG | Bogota / — | Inland cargo and logistics reference |
Colombia Port Codes and UN/LOCODEs
A UN/LOCODE identifies a geographic transport location. The indexed sample includes both city-level references and terminal or facility-level records, so similar names do not necessarily represent duplicate operational records.
City-Level and Terminal-Level References
A city may have more than one indexed record, and a terminal record may use a separate code from a broader city reference. The shipping instruction should match the carrier’s booking, bill of lading and customs documentation.
How to Verify a Colombia Port Code
Check the UNECE UN/LOCODE list and compare it with the current Ecer Freight port directory. The final code should be confirmed against the operating terminal and shipping line booking.
Shipping from Colombia: Main Trade Lanes
Routing, transit time and available sailings vary by carrier, transshipment point, equipment type, season and port congestion. The following are planning references rather than guaranteed schedules.
Colombia to North America
Regular Caribbean services connect Colombia with the United States and Canada, often using Cartagena or Barranquilla as the origin gateway.
Colombia to Europe
Caribbean services connect Colombian exporters with North European and Mediterranean markets, with schedules subject to transshipment and seasonal changes.
Colombia to Asia-Pacific
Pacific-origin cargo commonly moves through Buenaventura, while Caribbean options may involve a transshipment hub and a longer routing.
Colombia to Latin America and the Caribbean
Short-sea and regional services support trade with Central America, the Caribbean, the east coast of South America and selected Pacific markets.
Sources and Methodology
Port coverage, terminology and market context are separated from official operating statistics. Figures are retained only where the relevant institution publishes a sufficiently clear period and measurement basis.
- Ecer Freight Ports Database — first-party indexed coverage of 34 Colombia ports and terminals, database snapshot October 2026.
- UNECE UN/LOCODE — international location-code structure and country-location references.
- Superintendencia de Transporte — Colombian transport-sector oversight and port-sector reporting context.
- DIMAR — Colombia’s maritime authority and maritime-facility regulatory context.
- Sociedad Portuaria Regional de Cartagena — operator information for Cartagena’s container and transshipment role.
Colombia Port FAQ
How many seaports does Colombia have?
Colombia has 34 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in the October 2026 database snapshot. The number represents indexed coverage and is not a statutory census of every maritime facility.
What is the busiest port in Colombia?
Cartagena is generally regarded as Colombia’s leading container and transshipment gateway. The indexed port reference is Cartagena, Co, UN/LOCODE COCTA; terminal-level throughput should be checked for the applicable year.
What is the port code for Cartagena, Colombia?
The Ecer Freight sample lists Cartagena, Co under COCTA. A second Cartagena-related record, COCTG, is also indexed, so the precise code should be matched to the named terminal and shipping documents.
Which Colombian port handles Pacific trade?
Buenaventura is Colombia’s principal Pacific gateway. The indexed sample includes COBUN and COBUE, and the correct reference depends on the facility or location used by the carrier.
Which regions are important for Colombia ocean freight?
The main maritime clusters are the Caribbean coast around Cartagena, Barranquilla and Santa Marta, and the Pacific coast around Buenaventura. Puerto Bolivar is a specialist bulk and energy reference on the Caribbean side.
How current are the Colombia port figures?
This page is a 2026 guide based on an October 2026 database snapshot. The latest complete statistical year is 2025, but official port statistics may be released on different schedules and should be confirmed before quoting a final shipment plan.
How can a shipper request a Colombia sea-freight quotation?
Shippers can compare available FCL sea-freight rates or LCL sea-freight rates. A quote normally requires origin, destination, cargo type, dimensions, weight, Incoterm, equipment and preferred sailing window.
Editorial note: This Colombia port guide combines Ecer Freight’s first-party port directory with publicly available UN/LOCODE, Colombian maritime and transport-sector references. Indexed coverage is reviewed with database updates, while operating statistics and sailing conditions are subject to the publication cycle of the relevant authority, carrier or terminal. The page is reviewed quarterly for material changes.
Ecer Freight · Seaports in Colombia: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026) · Data reviewed quarterly · Port Codes · Ports by Country · Contact