EC Prefix and Three-Character Structure
The EC prefix identifies Ecuador, while the final three characters identify the location entry. For example, ECGYL is an indexed code for Guayaquil and ECMTA is an indexed code for Manta.
Seaports in Ecuador: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026)
Ecuador has 19 ports and terminals indexed in the Ecer Freight database, supporting Pacific trade through Guayaquil, Manta, Esmeraldas and other coastal gateways.
Compare Ecuador port codes, regional cargo roles, available throughput information and practical sea-freight routing considerations.
Ecuador Port Overview
Ecuador’s seaborne trade is concentrated on the Pacific coast. Guayaquil is the principal container gateway, while Manta, Esmeraldas and Puerto Bolivar serve complementary container, bulk, energy, vehicle, agricultural and regional cargo flows. Indexed coverage and international league-table rankings are separate measures.
19
Ecuador ports & terminals indexed in our database
Ecer Freight database · Oct 2026
—
National seaport cargo tonnage, 2025; consolidated YoY series not published in a single comparable public table
MTOP / INEC · 2025
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National container throughput, 2025; consolidated YoY figure subject to terminal-level confirmation
MTOP / terminal reports · 2025
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National commercial-berth total, 2025; berth definitions vary by port authority and terminal
MTOP / port authorities · 2025
How many seaports does Ecuador have?
Ecuador has 19 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in its country port database as of October 2026. This is an indexed-coverage count, not a statutory count of every maritime facility.
What is Ecuador’s largest or busiest container gateway?
Guayaquil is generally Ecuador’s leading container gateway. The database includes Guayaquil under UN/LOCODE ECGYL, with ECGYE also present as a related Guayaquil code entry; the applicable terminal and code should be confirmed before booking.
Which regions handle most Ecuador sea freight?
The Guayas coastal cluster around Guayaquil and Balao is the principal cargo area, complemented by Manta on the central coast and Esmeraldas and San Lorenzo in the north. Relevant indexed codes include ECGYL, ECMTA, ECESM, ECBLT and ECSLR.
Top Ports in Ecuador by Freight Relevance
The table below follows the activity order of the Ecer Freight sample. A 2025 throughput, YoY change and World rank are shown only where a comparable public figure can be verified; a dash across the three fields indicates that no complete 2025 public series was confirmed.
Selected Ecuador ports and terminals; 2025 figures and global rank require terminal-specific confirmation.
| World rank | Port | UN-LOCODE | 2025 throughput (M TEU) | YoY change | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Guayaquil | ECGYL | — | — | Guayas / Pacific coast |
| — | Manta | ECMTA | — | — | Manabí / central coast |
| — | Esmeraldas | ECESM | — | — | Esmeraldas / northern coast |
| — | Puerto Bolivar | ECPBO | — | — | El Oro / southern coast |
| — | Balao Terminal | ECBLT | — | — | Guayas / energy and bulk corridor |
| — | San Lorenzo | ECSLR | — | — | Esmeraldas / northern coast |
Ecuador Port Regions and Cargo Roles
Guayas and Southern Gulf Cluster
The Guayas cluster is Ecuador’s core maritime logistics area. Guayaquil supports containerized imports and exports, while Balao-related facilities are associated with energy and bulk flows.
Indexed ports in the Guayas and southern Gulf cluster
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guayaquil | ECGYL | Guayaquil / — | Containerized cargo, general cargo and regional distribution |
| Guayaquil | ECGYE | Guayaquil / — | Related city-level or terminal coding entry; verify operational use |
| Balao Terminal | ECBLT | Balao Terminal / — | Energy and bulk-oriented terminal activity |
| Balao | ECEBL | Balao / — | Bulk and energy-related maritime flows |
Central Pacific Coast
Manta is Ecuador’s principal central-coast gateway and can support project, vehicle, general and containerized cargo subject to vessel schedules and terminal acceptance.
Indexed ports in the central Pacific cluster
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manta | ECMTA | Manta / — | General cargo, vehicles, project cargo and container services |
| Manta Ec | ECMEC | Manta Ec / — | Related Manta coding entry; confirm the terminal before dispatch |
| Bahia De Caraquez | ECBHA | Bahia De Caraquez / — | Regional and general maritime activity |
| Bahia De Caraguez | ECBDC | — / — | Alternative indexed coding entry; verify naming and operational status |
Northern Pacific Coast
Esmeraldas and San Lorenzo connect northern Ecuador with coastal and inland cargo catchments. Service frequency, draft, equipment and inland transport availability should be confirmed for each shipment.
Indexed ports in the northern Pacific cluster
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Esmeraldas | ECESM | Esmeraldas / — | General, bulk and energy-linked coastal cargo |
| San Lorenzo | ECSLR | San Lorenzo / — | Regional northern-coast and bulk-related cargo |
| San Lorenzo | ECSLO | Esmeraldas / — | Related San Lorenzo / Esmeraldas coding entry |
Southern Coast and Island Services
Puerto Bolivar, La Libertad, Salinas and Seymour represent additional southern-coast or island-related entries in the indexed sample. Their cargo profiles and sailing availability are more route- and facility-specific.
Indexed ports in the southern and island group
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puerto Bolivar | ECPBO | Puerto Bolivar / — | Agricultural exports, general cargo and regional shipping |
| La Libertad | ECLLD | La Libertad / — | Coastal, petroleum-related and general maritime activity |
| Salinas | ECSAL | Salinas / — | Coastal and regional maritime services |
| Seymour | ECSYM | Seymour / — | Island-related maritime and supply services |
Ecuador Port Codes and UN/LOCODEs
Ecuadorian UN/LOCODEs use the EC country prefix followed by a three-character location identifier. Similar city or terminal names can have different entries, so the code should be checked against the bill of lading, booking confirmation and terminal instructions.
City-Level and Terminal-Level Entries
A city may appear with more than one code or name variant in operational datasets. Guayaquil appears as ECGYL and ECGYE in this sample, so the carrier or terminal should confirm the exact place of receipt and port of loading.
How to Verify a Code
Verify the code through the UNECE UN/LOCODE list, the carrier booking system and the Ecer Freight port code directory before cargo documentation is issued.
Shipping from Ecuador: Main Trade Lanes
Ecuador’s principal ocean routes connect Pacific gateways with North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America. Transit times are indicative only and vary with transshipment, vessel schedules, port congestion, seasonality, equipment and customs clearance.
Ecuador to North America
Containerized agricultural, seafood, manufactured and consumer cargo commonly moves from Guayaquil and Manta toward United States, Canada and Mexico markets.
Ecuador to Europe
Bananas, seafood, flowers and other Ecuadorian exports generally use scheduled container services from the Guayas gateway, often with direct or transshipment options.
Ecuador to Asia
Asia-bound cargo normally relies on Pacific services and transshipment hubs. Equipment availability and the selected Asian gateway can materially change the total transit time.
Ecuador to Latin America
Regional services connect Ecuador with Pacific and Atlantic Latin American markets through direct calls or established transshipment hubs.
Data Sources and Methodology
This page separates Ecer Freight’s indexed port coverage from official statistics and international throughput rankings. Public figures are retained only when the reference year, unit and coverage are sufficiently clear.
- Ecer Freight Ports Database — first-party indexed coverage of 19 Ecuador ports and terminals, data snapshot October 2026.
- UNECE UN/LOCODE — international location-code structure and location verification reference.
- Ecuador Ministry of Transport and Public Works (MTOP) — public transport, port and maritime-sector reference material; 2025 statistics are used where published and comparable.
- Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) — Ecuador official statistical context for trade and transport indicators.
- UNCTADstat — international maritime and trade datasets used for cross-country context, where the relevant Ecuador series is available.
Ecuador Seaport FAQ
How many seaports does Ecuador have?
Ecuador has 19 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight as of October 2026. The figure describes the Ecer Freight database coverage and should not be interpreted as a legal census of every maritime facility.
What is the main port in Ecuador?
Guayaquil is generally Ecuador’s main container and cargo gateway. The indexed Guayaquil entries are ECGYL and ECGYE; the exact code should be matched to the carrier, terminal and shipping documents.
What are the main port codes in Ecuador?
Examples in the indexed sample include ECGYL for Guayaquil, ECMTA for Manta, ECESM for Esmeraldas, ECPBO for Puerto Bolivar and ECSLR for San Lorenzo. Code use should be verified before booking.
Which Ecuador regions handle the most sea freight?
The Guayas and southern Gulf cluster, centered on Guayaquil, generally handles the largest share of containerized activity. Manta, Esmeraldas, San Lorenzo and Puerto Bolivar provide important regional or cargo-specific alternatives.
Is 2025 Ecuador port throughput available?
Some terminal and authority figures may be available separately, but a fully comparable national 2025 series covering all indexed facilities was not confirmed for this page. Terminal-level throughput and YoY data should therefore be verified for the selected port.
How can a shipper request an Ecuador sea-freight quote?
A quote should include origin and destination, cargo description, weight, dimensions, Incoterm, container type, preferred port and required sailing date. FCL and LCL rate search pages provide separate starting points for Ecuador shipments.
Are Ecuador port transit times fixed?
No. Transit times are typically affected by the port rotation, transshipment, vessel schedule, weather, congestion, customs processing and inland delivery conditions. Final timing is subject to carrier confirmation.
Editorial note: Port names and codes are based on the Ecer Freight database snapshot from October 2026. Trade-lane descriptions and statistical context are checked against publicly available UNECE, Ecuadorian government, official statistics and international maritime sources. Port coverage is reviewed with database updates, while market and routing information is reviewed quarterly or when authoritative source data changes.
Ecer Freight · Seaports in Ecuador: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026) · Data reviewed quarterly · Port Codes · Ports by Country · Contact