GR Prefix and Three-Letter Port Code
Greece uses the ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 prefix GR. A UN/LOCODE normally combines GR with a three-letter location identifier, such as GRPIR for Piraeus, GRTHE for Thessaloniki and GRPAT for Patras.
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 maritime gateway between the Eastern Mediterranean, Europe, the Black Sea and global trade lanes.
Explore Greece port codes, major cargo gateways, regional port clusters and practical routing information for international shipping.
Greece Port Overview
Greece combines large container gateways, multipurpose commercial ports, ferry terminals and island facilities. The figures below distinguish Ecer Freight’s indexed port coverage from national and port-authority statistics.
257
Greece ports & terminals indexed in our database
Ecer Freight database · Oct 2026
—
National seaborne freight tonnage, 2025; consolidated official YoY series not yet published
ELSTAT · 2025
—
National container throughput in TEU, 2025; harmonised official total unavailable
MOT / port authorities · 2025
—
Commercial port berth total, 2025; no single consolidated official figure
MOT · 2025
How many seaports does Greece have?
Greece has 257 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in its country port database as of October 2026. This is an indexed database coverage figure, not a statutory count of every harbour or marina.
What is the largest or busiest cargo port in Greece?
Piraeus, UN/LOCODE GRPIR, is generally Greece’s leading container and gateway port by cargo activity. Thessaloniki, coded GRTHE, is the principal northern Greek commercial and container gateway.
Which areas handle most of Greece’s freight?
The Attica and Saronic Gulf cluster around Piraeus, Eleusis and Aspropyrgos handles a major share of gateway and industrial cargo, while Thessaloniki serves northern Greece and Balkan hinterlands. Patras and Volos provide important regional and ferry-linked freight roles.
Top Cargo and Container Ports in Greece
The table uses the most commercially active port records in the Ecer Freight sample. World ranking and 2025 throughput are shown only where a comparable, publicly reported 2025 container series is available; port-level reporting conventions can differ.
Selected Greece ports by commercial importance and container relevance
| World rank | Port | UN-LOCODE | 2025 throughput (M TEU) | YoY change | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Piraeus | GRPIR | — | — | Attica and Saronic Gulf |
| — | Thessaloniki | GRTHE | — | — | Central Macedonia |
| — | Volos | GRVLS | — | — | Thessaly |
| — | Eleusis | GRELE | — | — | Attica and Saronic Gulf |
| — | Patras | GRPAT | — | — | Western Greece |
| — | Alexandroupolis | GRALE | — | — | Thrace |
| — | Iraki Ion( Heraklion) | GRHER | — | — | Crete |
| — | Athens | GRATH | — | — | Attica |
Greece Port Regions and Cargo Roles
Attica and Saronic Gulf
The Attica cluster is Greece’s principal gateway for containerised imports, exports, distribution cargo and industrial supply chains.
Ports and terminals in the Attica cluster
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piraeus | GRPIR | Piraeus / — | Container, ro-ro, ferry and gateway cargo |
| Eleusis | GRELE | Eleusis / — | Bulk, industrial and multipurpose cargo |
| Athens | GRATH | Athens / — | Urban and passenger-linked maritime logistics |
| Aspropyrgos | GRASP | Aspropyrgos / — | Industrial and liquid bulk support |
Northern Greece and Thrace
Northern ports connect Greek production and consumption centres with the Balkans, the Black Sea region and Eastern Mediterranean routes.
Northern commercial gateways
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thessaloniki | GRTHE | Thessaloniki / — | Container, general cargo and Balkan gateway |
| Thessaloniki | GRSKG | Thessaloniki / — | Port and terminal-level commercial activity |
| Alexandroupolis | GRALE | Alexandroupolis / — | Regional, project and energy-related cargo |
Central Greece and Western Mainland
Ports in central and western mainland Greece support agricultural, industrial, bulk, ferry and regional distribution flows.
Central and western mainland ports
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volos | GRVLS | Volos Municipality / — | Bulk, general cargo and regional industry |
| Volos | GRVOL | Volos / — | Port and terminal-level regional cargo |
| Patras | GRPAT | Municipality Of Patras / — | Ro-ro, ferry and western European connections |
| Itea | GRITE | Municipal Unit Of Itea / — | Regional bulk and multipurpose cargo |
| Corinth | GRCOR | Corinth / — | Industrial and regional cargo |
Crete, Ionian Islands and Aegean Islands
Island ports combine domestic distribution, passenger services, tourism supply chains and selected agricultural or regional cargo operations.
Island and Crete port records
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iraki Ion( Heraklion) | GRHER | Iraki Ion( Heraklion) / — | Crete gateway, ferry and regional cargo |
| Iraklion | GRIRA | Heraklion / — | Container, ferry and agricultural supply chains |
| Corfu | GRCFU | Corcyra / — | Passenger, ferry and island distribution |
| Zakynthos | GRZTH | Zakynthos / — | Island ferry and local supply cargo |
| Chios | GRCHI | Aegean / — | Island distribution and passenger-linked cargo |
Greece Port Codes and UN/LOCODEs
City-Level and Terminal-Level Records
A city-level location and a terminal or operational record may appear as separate entries. For example, Thessaloniki is represented in the sample by GRTHE and GRSKG, so the exact code should be matched to the booking, bill of lading and carrier instructions.
How to Verify a Greece Port Code
Verify the location against the UNECE UN/LOCODE directory and cross-check the operational record in the Ecer Freight port directory before quoting or filing shipping documents.
Shipping from Greece: Main Trade Lanes
Routing, transhipment, equipment availability and sailing schedules are subject to carrier confirmation, seasonal conditions and the selected Greek gateway.
Greece–North Europe
Containerised exports and imports commonly move through Piraeus and connect with Northern European hub ports.
Greece–East Mediterranean
Short-sea and feeder services link Greek gateways with Turkey, Cyprus, Egypt and Levant markets.
Greece–Asia
Piraeus is a major Mediterranean entry point for Asia–Europe container flows, with onward feeder and inland distribution options.
Greece–Italy and Adriatic
Patras and other western ports support ro-ro, ferry and short-sea flows between Greece, Italy and the Adriatic region.
Sources and Data Methodology
Port coverage, code presentation and commercial descriptions are maintained separately from official throughput league tables. Figures are reviewed against available public releases and should be confirmed for a live shipment.
- Ecer Freight Ports Database — first-party indexed coverage of 257 Greece ports and terminals; data snapshot October 2026.
- UNECE UN/LOCODE — location-code structure and country-prefix reference for Greece.
- Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) — national transport and maritime-statistics reference; the latest complete statistical year used where available is 2025.
- Greek Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy — maritime policy, port-sector and official administrative context.
- Piraeus Port Authority — port-specific operational and annual-report information for Piraeus.
Greece Seaport FAQ
How many seaports does Greece have?
Greece has 257 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight as of October 2026. The figure represents database coverage and does not necessarily equal the number of legally designated ports, harbours or marinas.
What is the main container port in Greece?
Piraeus, UN/LOCODE GRPIR, is generally the main container gateway in Greece. Its role and current throughput should be confirmed with the carrier or port authority for the relevant sailing period.
What is the UN/LOCODE for Piraeus?
The Ecer Freight sample lists Piraeus as GRPIR. Shipping documents should still be checked against the carrier booking and the latest UNECE location-code data.
Which Greek port serves northern Greece and the Balkans?
Thessaloniki, listed as GRTHE, is the principal northern Greek commercial gateway and supports cargo flows to northern Greece and nearby Balkan markets.
Which regions are most important for Greece sea freight?
The Attica and Saronic Gulf cluster, northern Greece around Thessaloniki, western Greece around Patras, and Crete around Heraklion are key areas. Volos and Alexandroupolis also support important regional or specialised cargo roles.
How current is the Greece port data?
The Ecer Freight country-page snapshot is October 2026, while the most recent complete statistical reference year is 2025. Port schedules, berth conditions, throughput and carrier rotations remain subject to periodic revision.
How can shipping rates from Greece be requested?
FCL and LCL rate searches can be made through the relevant Ecer Freight quotation pages. A usable request normally includes origin port, destination, cargo description, container or volume details, weight and expected shipping date.
Editorial note: This Greece port guide combines Ecer Freight’s first-party port index with UNECE location-code references, Greek statistical publications, ministry information and port-authority material. The indexed port list and page content are reviewed quarterly; throughput, schedules and operational conditions may change when new official releases become available.
Ecer Freight · Seaports in Greece: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026) · Data reviewed quarterly · Port Codes · Ports by Country · Contact