GR Prefix and Three-Letter Location Code
Greek UN/LOCODEs begin with the two-letter country prefix GR, followed by a three-letter location identifier. For example, GRPIR identifies Piraeus and GRTHE identifies Thessaloniki.
Seaports in Greece: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026)
Greece has 257 ports and terminals indexed in the Ecer Freight database and serves as a strategic gateway between European, Mediterranean, Black Sea and global shipping markets.
Explore Greek port codes, major cargo gateways, regional port clusters and indicative shipping routes in the 2026 country guide.
Greece Port Overview
Greece combines major container gateways, energy and bulk facilities, ferry ports and island terminals. The figures below distinguish Ecer Freight indexed coverage from publicly reported national and port-level operating statistics.
257
Greece ports & terminals indexed in our database
Ecer Freight database · Nov 2026
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National port freight volume in tonnes, 2025; consolidated YoY figure pending official release
ELSTAT 2025
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National container throughput in TEU, 2025; consolidated YoY figure pending official release
Eurostat 2025
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Commercial port berth count, 2025; national comparable total not published in this view
Hellenic Ministry of Maritime Affairs 2025
How many seaports does Greece have?
Greece has 257 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in its Greece port database as of November 2026. This is an indexed coverage count, not a legal classification of every Greek harbor.
What is the largest or busiest container port in Greece?
Piraeus is generally Greece’s leading container gateway by throughput and international liner connectivity. Its UN/LOCODE is GRPIR, while Thessaloniki, coded GRTHE, is the principal northern container gateway.
Which areas handle most Greek maritime freight?
The main freight concentrations are the Attica and Piraeus area, the Thessaloniki and northern Greece gateway, and western and central ports such as Patras, Volos and Eleusis. The Ecer Freight sample lists GRPIR, GRTHE, GRVLS, GRPAT and GRELE among these locations.
Top Ports in Greece by Container and Cargo Activity
This indicative league table separates publicly reported container throughput from the broader Ecer Freight indexed port count. Rankings are global context rather than an official national ranking, and figures remain subject to port and statistical authority confirmation.
Selected Greek gateways with 2025 container throughput indicators
| World rank | Port | UN-LOCODE | 2025 throughput (M TEU) | YoY change | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Piraeus | GRPIR | 5.10 | +6.7% | Attica |
| — | Thessaloniki | GRTHE | 0.60 | +4.0% | Northern Greece |
| — | Volos | GRVLS | — | — | Central Greece |
| — | Iraki Ion( Heraklion) | GRHER | — | — | Crete |
| — | Patras | GRPAT | — | — | Western Greece |
| — | Eleusis | GRELE | — | — | Attica |
| — | Alexandroupolis | GRALE | — | — | Thrace |
Greece Port Regions and Cargo Roles
Greek port activity is distributed across mainland gateways, island facilities and specialized coastal terminals. The tables use only ports and codes present in the Ecer Freight Greece sample.
Attica and Saronic Gulf
Attica contains the country’s principal container gateway and a dense network of industrial, tanker and short-sea facilities.
Selected Attica ports
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piraeus | GRPIR | Piraeus | Container, ro-ro, cruise and general cargo |
| Athens | GRATH | Athens | Urban and coastal logistics gateway |
| Eleusis | GRELE | Eleusis | Industrial, bulk and project cargo |
| Aspropyrgos | GRASP | Aspropyrgos | Industrial and liquid bulk support |
| Alimos | GRAIO | Alimos | Coastal and passenger activity |
Northern Greece and Thrace
Northern ports connect Greece with Balkan hinterlands, Black Sea services and regional industrial markets.
Selected northern Greek ports
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thessaloniki | GRTHE | Thessaloniki | Container, general cargo and Balkan gateway |
| Thessaloniki | GRSKG | Thessaloniki | Port and terminal reference for Thessaloniki |
| Alexandroupolis | GRALE | Alexandroupolis | General cargo, energy and regional logistics |
| Agios Efstratios | GRAGO | Agios Efstratios | Island and short-sea services |
| Amoliani | GRAMI | Amoliani | Passenger and island supply services |
Central Greece and the Aegean Mainland
Central Greek ports support agricultural, industrial, bulk and domestic distribution flows around the Aegean and Gulf of Euboea.
Selected central Greek ports
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volos | GRVOL | Volos | Bulk, general cargo and industrial logistics |
| Volos | GRVLS | Volos Municipality | Port and terminal reference for Volos |
| Chalkida | GRCLK | Chalkida | Industrial and coastal cargo |
| Chalkis | GRCLS | Chalkis | Industrial and general cargo |
| Itea | GRITE | Municipal Unit Of Itea | Bulk and regional coastal shipping |
| Corinth | GRCOR | Corinth | Industrial, bulk and project cargo |
Western Greece, Ionian Islands and Crete
Western and island ports provide ferry, ro-ro, tourism, regional supply and selected commercial cargo connections.
Selected western and island ports
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patras | GRPAT | Municipality Of Patras | Ro-ro, ferry and general cargo gateway |
| Corfu | GRCFU | Corcyra | Ferry, cruise and island logistics |
| Iraki Ion( Heraklion) | GRHER | Iraki Ion( Heraklion) | Container, ferry and regional cargo |
| Iraklion | GRIRA | Heraklion | Ferry, passenger and regional cargo |
| Zakynthos | GRZTH | Zakynthos | Island ferry and short-sea services |
| Chios | GRCHI | Aegean | Island ferry and regional supply |
| Chania | GRCHQ | Chania | Ferry, passenger and island logistics |
Greece Port Codes and UN/LOCODE Structure
UN/LOCODE references help carriers, forwarders, customs teams and booking systems identify Greek maritime locations. A code should be checked against the operational port, terminal and transport document.
City-Level and Terminal-Level References
A city may appear under more than one operational reference in shipping systems. The sample includes GRVOL and GRVLS for Volos and GRTHE and GRSKG for Thessaloniki, so the exact booking or terminal instruction should be confirmed.
How to Verify a Greece Port Code
Cross-check the code with the UNECE UN/LOCODE resource and compare it with the searchable Ecer Freight port directory before issuing shipping instructions.
Shipping from Greece: Main Trade Lanes
Transit times are indicative port-to-port ranges and may change with carrier schedules, transshipment, seasonality, customs clearance and inland delivery requirements.
Greece to North Europe
Regular container services connect Greek gateways with North European hub ports and onward inland distribution networks.
Greece to Mediterranean Markets
Short-sea and feeder networks support trade with Italy, Spain, France, Türkiye and other Mediterranean markets.
Greece to Middle East
Piraeus and other Greek gateways can serve Levant, Gulf and Red Sea connections through direct or transshipment services.
Greece to Asia
The eastern Mediterranean position of Greece supports Asia–Europe container flows, with schedules dependent on carrier rotations and transshipment arrangements.
Data Sources and Methodology
The page combines first-party indexed coverage with public port, transport and trade references. Port-level operating figures can use different reporting boundaries, fiscal periods and definitions.
- Ecer Freight Ports Database — 257 Greece ports and terminals indexed in the November 2026 database snapshot.
- UNECE — UN/LOCODE country and location-code reference framework.
- Eurostat — European port activity and maritime transport statistics, where comparable data are available.
- Hellenic Statistical Authority — Greek transport and national statistical releases used for official context.
- Hellenic Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy — national maritime administration and port-sector context.
- Piraeus Port Authority — port-specific operational and container activity information for Piraeus.
Greece Port FAQ
How many seaports does Greece have?
Greece has 257 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight as of the November 2026 database snapshot. The figure represents indexed coverage and should not be interpreted as a statutory total of every harbor or landing place.
What is the main container port in Greece?
Piraeus is generally the main container gateway in Greece and is identified by UN/LOCODE GRPIR. Thessaloniki, identified by GRTHE, is the principal northern gateway.
What are the main commercial port regions in Greece?
The key commercial clusters include Attica and Piraeus, northern Greece around Thessaloniki, central Greece around Volos and Corinth, and western Greece around Patras. Crete and the Ionian and Aegean islands add important ferry, passenger and regional supply capacity.
How are Greece port codes formatted?
Greece UN/LOCODEs use the GR country prefix followed by three letters, such as GRPIR for Piraeus, GRTHE for Thessaloniki and GRPAT for Patras. The exact operational reference should be checked before booking.
Are the Greece throughput figures official?
Where shown, throughput figures are indicative public port-level or statistical references for 2025. National totals may be released on different schedules, and figures should be confirmed with the relevant port authority or carrier for contractual reporting.
How current is this Greece port guide?
The indexed port coverage was reviewed against the November 2026 Ecer Freight database snapshot. Time-sensitive throughput, schedules, restrictions and terminal conditions remain subject to quarterly review and operational confirmation.
How can a shipper request a Greece sea-freight quote?
Shippers can compare available FCL sea-freight rates or request LCL sea-freight rates. A valid quote normally requires origin and destination ports, cargo details, container type, weight, ready date and delivery terms.
This Greece port guide was prepared from the Ecer Freight port database, public UN/LOCODE references, Greek statistical sources, European maritime statistics and port-authority information. Indexed coverage is reviewed with database updates, while time-sensitive port activity and trade-lane information are checked quarterly where public data are available.
Ecer Freight · Seaports in Greece: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026) · Data reviewed quarterly · Port Codes · Ports by Country · Contact