JM plus a three-character location code
A Jamaican UN/LOCODE begins with JM and is followed by a three-character location identifier. Examples in the database include JMKIN for Kingston and JMMNB for Montego Bay.
Seaports in Jamaica: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026)
Jamaica has 23 ports and terminals indexed in the Ecer Freight database, supporting Caribbean container, bulk, breakbulk, cruise and regional feeder activity.
Use this guide to check Jamaica port codes, compare the country’s principal maritime gateways and review indicative trade-lane options.
Jamaica Port Overview
Jamaica is a strategically located Caribbean transshipment and destination market. Kingston is the principal container gateway, while Montego Bay and other coastal facilities serve regional cargo, cruise, breakbulk, bulk and local supply-chain requirements. Indexed coverage is an Ecer Freight database measure and should not be confused with a national port census or a global throughput ranking.
23
Jamaica ports & terminals indexed in our database
Ecer Freight database · Nov 2026
—
National maritime cargo volume, 2025; YoY not reported in a consolidated public series
MOT 2025 public data review
—
National container throughput, 2025; YoY not reported in a comparable consolidated series
PAJ 2025 public data review
—
National commercial berth total, 2025; YoY not reported in a consolidated public series
PAJ 2025 public data review
How many seaports does Jamaica have?
Jamaica has 23 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in its Nov 2026 database snapshot. This indexed count is not a claim that every listed facility has the same commercial, customs or container-handling role.
What is Jamaica’s main container gateway?
Kingston is Jamaica’s principal container gateway and is represented in the database by UN/LOCODE JMKIN. Montego Bay, represented by JMMNB, is also an important western Jamaica maritime location.
Which areas handle Jamaica’s main port activity?
The Kingston metropolitan area is the leading container and logistics cluster, while Montego Bay and the north-coast ports support western Jamaica, cruise activity, regional cargo and selected bulk or breakbulk flows.
Top Ports in Jamaica by Commercial Relevance
The following list follows the order of Jamaica records in the Ecer Freight database, which is weighted toward business activity rather than a global container-port league table. A comparable, consolidated 2025 TEU series and year-on-year result is not publicly available for every listed Jamaican facility; rows therefore retain a complete dash for rank, throughput and change where no reliable figure is available.
Jamaica port reference table · 2025 statistics where consistently published
| World rank | Port | UN-LOCODE | 2025 throughput (M TEU) | YoY change | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Montego Bay | JMMNB | — | — | Western Jamaica |
| — | Kingston | JMKIN | — | — | South-eastern Jamaica |
| — | Port Antonio | JMPOT | — | — | North-eastern Jamaica |
| — | Montego Bay | JMMBJ | — | — | Western Jamaica |
| — | Rio Bueno | JMRBU | — | — | North coast |
| — | Port Esquivel | JMPES | — | — | South-central Jamaica |
Jamaica Port Regions and Cargo Roles
Jamaica’s ports are distributed around a compact island market. The regional groupings below are practical freight-planning clusters based only on the ports indexed in the supplied database sample.
South-eastern Jamaica
The Kingston area is the country’s principal container, logistics and transshipment cluster, with nearby facilities supporting maritime access to the capital region.
South-eastern port cluster
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kingston | JMKIN | Kingston / — | Container, transshipment and general cargo |
| Port Royal | JMPRO | Port Royal / — | Local, passenger and marine-support activity |
| Port Morant | JMPMO | Port Morant / — | Coastal and regional cargo |
| Saint Thomas | JMSTH | — / — | Local and coastal maritime activity |
Western Jamaica
Western Jamaica is anchored by Montego Bay and includes coastal facilities serving tourism, regional distribution, local industry and selected bulk or breakbulk movements.
Western port cluster
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montego Bay | JMMNB | Montego Bay / — | Regional cargo, cruise and general cargo |
| Montego Bay | JMMBJ | Montego Bay / — | Coastal and port-service activity |
| Lucea | JMLUC | Lucea / — | Local and coastal cargo |
| Savanna La Mar | JMSLM | Savanna La Mar / — | Local and regional cargo |
| Black River | JMBLR | Black River / — | Coastal, bulk and local cargo |
North and North-eastern Jamaica
North-coast ports connect coastal communities and tourism-oriented locations with regional maritime services. Actual operating windows, berth access and cargo acceptance are subject to port and carrier confirmation.
North-coast port cluster
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port Antonio | JMPOT | Port Antonio / — | Regional, cruise and general cargo |
| Rio Bueno | JMRBU | Rio Bueno / — | Coastal and tourism-related activity |
| Ocho Rios Bay | JMORB | Ocho Rios Bay / — | Cruise, passenger and local cargo |
| Ocho Rios | JMOCJ | Ocho Rios / — | Cruise, passenger and coastal activity |
| Port Rhoades | JMPRH | Port Rhoades / — | Local and regional maritime activity |
South and South-western Jamaica
The south and south-west coast includes facilities associated with coastal supply, industrial cargo, bulk movements and local fishing or community trade.
South-coast port cluster
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port Esquivel | JMPES | Port Esquivel / — | Industrial, bulk and general cargo |
| Port Kaiser | JMPKA | Port Kaiser / — | Bulk and industrial cargo |
| Rocky Point | JMRCP | Rocky Point / — | Coastal and local cargo |
| Alligator Pond | JMALP | Alligator Pond / — | Local coastal and fishing activity |
| Salt River | JMSAR | — / — | Local and coastal activity |
Jamaica Port Codes and UN/LOCODEs
Jamaica port codes use the country prefix JM under the UN/LOCODE system. Always confirm the operational facility, terminal, carrier booking point and customs requirements before dispatch.
City-level and terminal-level records
A city or port-area code may represent a wider maritime location, while separate records can identify another facility or operational point in the same area. A code alone does not confirm berth availability or accepted cargo types.
How to verify a Jamaica port code
Cross-check the code against the UNECE UN/LOCODE reference and the Ecer Freight port directory. The carrier, terminal operator and consignee instructions should be checked before booking.
Shipping from Jamaica: Main Trade Lanes
Indicative routing depends on carrier rotations, transshipment hubs, equipment availability, cargo type and the final delivery location. Transit times below are planning ranges rather than guaranteed sailing schedules.
Jamaica to North America
Regular Caribbean services connect Jamaica with North American gateways and inland distribution networks, commonly using Kingston or Montego Bay subject to the carrier’s rotation.
Jamaica to the Caribbean
Short-sea and feeder connections support movement between Jamaica and neighbouring Caribbean markets, with schedules varying by island, season and vessel deployment.
Jamaica to Europe
Europe-bound cargo generally moves through a direct or transshipment service selected according to the carrier network, cargo equipment and destination inland leg.
Jamaica to Latin America
Services to Central and South America may use regional transshipment hubs and can be suitable for containerized consumer goods, project cargo and selected commodity flows.
Data Sources and Methodology
The page separates Ecer Freight indexed coverage from official or publicly reported maritime statistics. Port roles are descriptive and should be confirmed with the relevant authority, carrier or terminal before a shipment is booked.
- Ecer Freight Ports Database — first-party database snapshot from Nov 2026, containing 23 Jamaica port and terminal records.
- UNECE — UN/LOCODE structure and location-code reference framework.
- Jamaica Ministry of Transport and Mining — national transport-sector context and official maritime information where published.
- Port Authority of Jamaica — port administration, facility and maritime-sector reference information.
- Statistical Institute of Jamaica — official national statistics and trade-data context.
Jamaica Port FAQ
How many seaports does Jamaica have?
Jamaica has 23 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in the Nov 2026 database snapshot.
What is the largest or busiest port in Jamaica?
Kingston is generally regarded as Jamaica’s principal container and transshipment gateway. The Ecer Freight record is JMKIN; a single comparable 2025 ranking across all Jamaican port facilities is not published consistently.
What is the UN/LOCODE for Kingston, Jamaica?
The Kingston record in the supplied Ecer Freight database is JMKIN. Shippers should verify the booking location and terminal instructions before using a code on commercial documents.
Which Jamaican port is used for western Jamaica?
Montego Bay is the principal western Jamaica location in the indexed sample, represented by JMMNB and also by the separate database record JMMBJ. The correct record depends on the carrier and facility involved.
How current is the Jamaica port data?
The indexed-port count reflects the Nov 2026 Ecer Freight database snapshot. Official throughput, berth and operating information may be released on different schedules and should be checked with Jamaica’s port authorities and the selected carrier.
Can freight rates be requested for Jamaica?
Yes. FCL and LCL rate requests can be submitted through the relevant Ecer Freight quotation pages. Final pricing depends on origin, destination, cargo details, equipment, sailing schedule, surcharges and local handling.
Are all 23 indexed locations container ports?
No. The 23 indexed Jamaica records include locations with different roles, such as container, general cargo, cruise, bulk, coastal and local maritime activity. Container acceptance must be confirmed for the specific port and terminal.
Editorial note: Jamaica port coverage is based on the Ecer Freight database snapshot from Nov 2026 and is reviewed against publicly available information from Jamaican maritime, transport and statistics institutions. Port records and trade-lane guidance are updated as source data and operating conditions change; schedules, cargo acceptance, throughput and berth availability remain subject to confirmation.
Ecer Freight · Seaports in Jamaica: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026) · Data reviewed quarterly · Port Codes · Ports by Country · Contact