EC Prefix and Three-Character Location Code
In a UN/LOCODE such as ECGYL, EC identifies Ecuador and GYL identifies the registered location. The code is a location reference and does not by itself guarantee a particular carrier service.
Seaports in Ecuador: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026)
Ecuador has 19 ports and terminals indexed in the Ecer Freight database and serves Pacific trade through Guayaquil, Manta, Esmeraldas and Puerto Bolivar, with cargo flows linked to regional production and inland distribution.
Review Ecuador port codes, principal cargo gateways, regional logistics roles and indicative shipping lanes for 2026 planning.
Ecuador Port Overview
Ecuador’s Pacific-facing port system is led by Guayaquil, while Manta, Esmeraldas and Puerto Bolivar support distinct container, multipurpose, energy, agricultural and regional cargo flows. Indexed coverage is an Ecer Freight database measure and should not be confused with a national port ranking.
19
Ecuador ports & terminals indexed in our database
Ecer Freight database · Nov 2026
—
Consolidated national seaport cargo volume, 2025; no comparable public figure identified
MTOP 2025 Bulletin
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National container throughput, 2025; no consolidated official figure identified
MTOP 2025 Bulletin
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National commercial berth count, 2025; reporting scope varies by facility
MTOP 2025 Bulletin
How many seaports does Ecuador have?
Ecuador has 19 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in its Ecuador port database snapshot for November 2026.
Which is Ecuador’s largest or busiest port?
Guayaquil is generally Ecuador’s principal maritime gateway by commercial activity and container relevance. The Ecer Freight records ECGYL and ECGYE identify Guayaquil port entries at city and facility level.
Which regions handle Ecuador’s main port cargo?
The main cargo concentration is around the Guayaquil and Gulf of Guayaquil area, supported by Manta on the central coast and Esmeraldas and San Lorenzo in the north. Relevant indexed codes include ECMTA, ECESM and ECSLR.
Top Ecuador Ports by Commercial Relevance
The following table follows the business-activity order of the Ecer Freight sample. A comparable 2025 port-by-port TEU league table is not consistently published across all Ecuador facilities, so unavailable rank, throughput and year-on-year values are shown together as em dashes rather than estimated.
Selected Ecuador port and terminal records
| World rank | Port | UN-LOCODE | 2025 throughput (M TEU) | YoY change | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Guayaquil | ECGYL | — | — | Guayas / Gulf of Guayaquil |
| — | Guayaquil | ECGYE | — | — | Guayas / Gulf of Guayaquil |
| — | Manta | ECMTA | — | — | Central coast |
| — | San Lorenzo | ECSLR | — | — | Northern coast |
| — | Esmeraldas | ECESM | — | — | Northern coast |
| — | Puerto Bolivar | ECPBO | — | — | Southern coast |
Ecuador Port Regions and Cargo Roles
Guayaquil and Gulf of Guayaquil
Guayaquil is the principal commercial cluster in the indexed sample and is generally associated with containerized imports and exports, general cargo and inland distribution for the Ecuadorian market.
Indexed gateways in the Guayaquil cluster
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guayaquil | ECGYL | Guayaquil / — | Container, general and export cargo gateway |
| Guayaquil | ECGYE | Guayaquil / — | City-level or facility-level commercial record |
| Balao Terminal | ECBLT | Balao Terminal / — | Specialized energy and bulk terminal role |
| Balao | ECEBL | Balao / — | Bulk and energy logistics record |
Central Pacific Coast
The central coast supports multipurpose and regional maritime activity. Manta is the leading indexed gateway in this group, while Bahia De Caraquez records are more specialized and should be confirmed for current service availability.
Indexed central-coast records
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manta | ECMTA | — / — | Multipurpose, project and regional cargo |
| Manta Ec | ECMEC | Manta Ec / — | Facility-level Manta logistics record |
| Bahia De Caraquez | ECBHA | Bahia De Caraquez / — | Regional and specialized maritime activity |
| Bahia De Caraguez | ECBDC | — / — | Alternate indexed facility record |
Northern and Southern Coastal Gateways
Northern ports connect coastal and border-area logistics, while southern facilities serve agricultural, bulk and local maritime flows. Actual sailing schedules, berth availability and cargo acceptance are subject to carrier and terminal confirmation.
Indexed northern and southern coastal records
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Lorenzo | ECSLR | San Lorenzo / — | Northern coastal and regional cargo |
| San Lorenzo | ECSLO | Esmeraldas / — | Facility-level northern coastal record |
| Esmeraldas | ECESM | Esmeraldas / — | Bulk, energy and regional cargo |
| Puerto Bolivar | ECPBO | Puerto Bolivar / — | Agricultural and multipurpose export gateway |
| La Libertad | ECLLD | La Libertad / — | Coastal, energy and regional cargo |
| Salinas | ECSAL | Salinas / — | Local and specialized coastal activity |
| Salinas | ECSNC | Salinas / — | Alternate indexed coastal record |
Ecuador Port Codes and UN/LOCODE Structure
Ecuador port codes use the country prefix EC followed by a three-character location identifier. Code selection should be checked against the exact booking location, terminal and transport document.
City-Level and Terminal-Level Records
A city or port-area code can coexist with a separate facility record. Ecuador examples include ECGYL and ECGYE for Guayaquil, and ECESM alongside northern coastal records. The terminal named on the booking should be confirmed before cargo release.
How to Verify a Code
Compare the code with the shipping instruction, carrier schedule and the UNECE UN/LOCODE reference. The Ecer Freight port directory provides an additional searchable view of indexed Ecuador records.
Shipping from Ecuador: Main Trade Lanes
Indicative transit times vary by carrier rotation, transshipment hub, equipment availability, customs status and final inland destination. Confirm the live schedule and quotation before booking.
Ecuador to North America
Containerized and refrigerated export flows commonly connect Guayaquil and Manta with North American gateway markets.
Ecuador to Europe
Pacific services generally use direct or transshipment connections to European gateway ports for agricultural, refrigerated and general cargo.
Ecuador to East Asia
Asia-bound cargo normally requires a scheduled Pacific service and may include hub connections depending on the carrier network.
Ecuador to Latin America
Regional services link Ecuador with Pacific and Caribbean markets, often using transshipment for destinations outside the direct network.
Data Methodology and Sources
This page separates Ecer Freight indexed coverage from official port statistics and international throughput rankings. Figures are reviewed against available public information and are not estimates where a consistent official 2025 series is unavailable.
- Ecer Freight Ports Database — first-party database snapshot from November 2026 containing 19 Ecuador port and terminal records.
- UNECE — UN/LOCODE structure and location-code verification reference.
- National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency — maritime location and nautical reference context.
- Ecuador Ministry of Transport and Public Works — national transport and port-sector reporting context, including 2025 publication checks.
- Central Bank of Ecuador — trade and macroeconomic context used when interpreting cargo-market activity.
Ecuador Seaport FAQ
How many seaports does Ecuador have?
Ecuador has 19 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in the November 2026 database snapshot. This is an indexed-coverage count, not a claim that every record has the same commercial or operating status.
What is the main port in Ecuador?
Guayaquil is generally Ecuador’s main commercial port gateway. Ecer Freight lists Guayaquil under ECGYL and ECGYE, reflecting separate indexed location or facility records.
What is the UN/LOCODE prefix for Ecuador?
The UN/LOCODE country prefix for Ecuador is EC. Examples in the indexed sample include ECGYL for Guayaquil, ECMTA for Manta and ECESM for Esmeraldas.
Which Ecuador regions are important for sea freight?
The Guayaquil and Gulf of Guayaquil cluster is the principal commercial area, with additional northern activity around Esmeraldas and San Lorenzo and central and southern coastal activity around Manta and Puerto Bolivar.
Are Ecuador port throughput figures available for 2025?
Some facilities publish operational figures, but a consistently comparable national and port-by-port 2025 TEU series was not identified for all indexed records. For that reason, unavailable league-table fields are shown as em dashes rather than inferred values.
How can a shipper request an Ecuador sea-freight quote?
Shippers can compare indicative FCL sea-freight rates or LCL sea-freight rates. Final pricing depends on origin, destination, cargo details, equipment, sailing schedule, surcharges and customs requirements.
Should an Ecuador port code be confirmed before booking?
Yes. The shipper should confirm the exact UN/LOCODE, terminal, carrier rotation and cargo acceptance with the forwarder or carrier, particularly where city-level and facility-level records coexist.
Editorial note: Ecuador port coverage is based on the Ecer Freight database snapshot for November 2026. Public authority and industry information is reviewed when available, while page content and indexed records are reviewed quarterly. Port operations, schedules, throughput and service availability remain subject to confirmation.
Ecer Freight · Seaports in Ecuador: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026) · Data reviewed quarterly · Port Codes · Ports by Country · Contact