PACOL Port Code Lookup

Port Code Lookup

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Total 1 ports of PACOL

PACOL Colon Free Zone Port
Colon Free Zone Port is the major seaport of Colon, in the city of Colonin Panama. Overseas routes include Central and South America, Port code is PACOL.

Show details

Port Code

PACOL

Name

Colon Free Zone

Country / Region

Panama

City

Colon

Sea Routes

Central and South America

Type

Main Port

Latitude

9.3496000

Longitude

-79.8831000

Est. Unit Price

$1/m³ Book Now

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Port Overview: COLON FREE ZONE

COLON FREE ZONE is a Panamanian free-trade and re-export logistics zone in Colón Province on the Caribbean coast, close to the Atlantic entrance of the Panama Canal. The input port record identifies the location as Colón, Panama, under UN/LOCODE PACOL, with the alternative code PACFZ also used in the supplied description. Established in 1948, the zone is designed primarily for merchandise importation, storage, consolidation, distribution and re-export to Latin America and the Caribbean. It is an autonomous free-zone entity rather than a single conventional container terminal; the actual ocean operation normally depends on the selected nearby Caribbean gateway, terminal, carrier and inland transfer arrangement. Our service team can therefore coordinate the free-zone consignee, cargo release, warehouse handling and onward distribution as one operating plan, subject to confirmation of the nominated facility.

Reference	Record	Operational meaning
UN/LOCODE	PACOL	Use the code exactly as required by the carrier, booking platform and shipping documents.
Alternative code	PACFZ	Shown in the supplied port description; acceptance must be checked with the carrier and destination party.
Location	Colón, Panama	Caribbean coast, near the Atlantic side of the Panama Canal.
Coordinates	9.349600, -79.883100	Coordinates supplied for the COLON FREE ZONE record.
Port type	Free-zone re-export logistics hub	Ocean terminal selection and free-zone warehouse arrangements should be treated as separate planning items.

Key Highlights

Re-export orientationMerchandise is commonly imported for storage, redistribution or re-export rather than final consumption in Panama.

Caribbean–Canal positionIts location supports connections between Caribbean gateways, the Panama Canal corridor and Latin American markets.

Facility-specific handlingFree-zone warehouses, ocean terminals, customs interfaces and truck appointments must be matched to the actual cargo flow.

Transit variabilitySchedule reliability depends on the nominated terminal, transshipment plan, canal conditions, cargo release and inland delivery appointment.

Document-sensitive cargoConsignee details, cargo description, package data and the intended re-export procedure should be aligned before booking.

Facilities & Services

Free-zone warehousing: The zone includes commercial and warehouse areas used for storage, order preparation, consolidation and re-export handling. Availability, cargo eligibility and service scope depend on the selected operator.
Ocean container interface: Containerized cargo is normally routed through a nominated Caribbean container terminal, with the free-zone warehouse and final delivery location specified separately in the operating instructions.
Consolidation and deconsolidation: LCL cargo, buyer consolidations and mixed-SKU shipments require advance confirmation of receiving, sorting, labeling, palletization and delivery cut-offs.
Road distribution: Trucking is central to the link between terminal, free-zone warehouse and onward customer. Vehicle type, delivery appointment, security controls and waiting-time rules should be confirmed before dispatch.
Inspection and release coordination: Customs or other regulatory controls may interrupt cargo release. Our service team can coordinate document matching, inspection attendance and warehouse or terminal instructions, subject to local authorization.

Routes & Transit Times

Typical trade directions: The logistics model is suited to cargo moving from Asia, North America or Europe into the Caribbean and Latin America, followed by free-zone storage or regional re-export.
Connection structure: A shipment may involve an ocean leg to a nominated Caribbean gateway, terminal transfer, trucking into or out of the free zone, and a separate onward ocean or road leg.
Time planning: Transit time must be quoted after confirming the origin port, carrier routing, transshipment points, terminal, customs status, warehouse appointment and final destination. Our team does not treat a PACOL reference as a guaranteed direct sailing.
Factors causing variation: Vessel schedule changes, transshipment connections, Panama Canal conditions, terminal congestion, customs examination, documentation discrepancies and local trucking availability can all affect the delivery window.

For time-critical cargo, our service team recommends planning a connection buffer and obtaining a written confirmation of the terminal, warehouse receiving window and cargo release sequence before the booking is finalized.

Hinterland & Key Cargo

Primary service market: The immediate operating area is Colón and the wider Panamanian Caribbean logistics corridor, with distribution extending to Latin American and Caribbean buyers.
Commercial cargo: Typical free-zone flows include consumer goods, electronics, apparel, footwear, household products, spare parts and other packaged merchandise intended for wholesale or re-export channels.
Inventory model: Cargo may be held for staged release, buyer allocation, mixed-order preparation or regional redistribution. SKU-level packing lists and carton identification are particularly important for these flows.
Special cargo: Batteries, chemicals, cosmetics, food products, pharmaceuticals, oversized goods and temperature-sensitive cargo require advance review of licensing, labeling, storage and transport conditions.

Operations & Compliance

Cut-off control: Carrier documentation cut-off, terminal gate cut-off, warehouse receiving cut-off and customs submission timing are separate milestones. Our service team confirms each deadline against the actual booking and facility.
Dangerous goods: Provide the UN number, proper shipping name, class, packing group, SDS and packing certificate where applicable before booking. Carrier, terminal and warehouse acceptance must be obtained; free-zone storage does not automatically mean dangerous goods are accepted.
Document consistency: Commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading instructions, consignee or notify-party details, package marks and re-export instructions should match. Inconsistent descriptions or quantities can delay release or trigger inspection.
Inspection and inland delivery: Do not dispatch a truck until release status, examination requirements, delivery appointment, vehicle suitability and receiving contact are confirmed. Customs or terminal holds can create storage and waiting exposure, subject to actual tariffs.

Shipping Tips

State the complete routing objective at quotation stage: ocean gateway, PACOL free-zone warehouse, final buyer country and whether the cargo will be stored, consolidated or immediately re-exported.
Send a detailed packing list before booking, including carton dimensions, gross weight, SKU references, marks and any battery, liquid, chemical or temperature-control characteristics.
For LCL or multi-supplier cargo, arrange supplier-level labeling and a consolidation plan before cargo reaches the warehouse. This reduces sorting disputes and rework during receiving.
Ask our service team to compare the available routing and handling options when the shipment is time-sensitive, oversized, regulated or vulnerable to transshipment delays; all schedules and charges remain subject to carrier and facility confirmation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is PACOL a conventional container terminal code?: PACOL identifies the COLON FREE ZONE record. It should not automatically be treated as the name of a particular ocean terminal. The carrier booking, bill of lading and delivery order must use the terminal and code accepted for the selected routing.
Can cargo be shipped to PACOL for later re-export?: That is the principal logistics use of the free zone, but eligibility, warehouse acceptance, documentation and the intended re-export procedure must be confirmed with the appointed operator and relevant authorities.
What information is needed for a reliable quotation?: Our team needs origin, destination, cargo description, packages, dimensions, gross weight, trade term, dangerous-goods status, requested warehouse service and whether the cargo is for storage, consolidation or onward re-export.
Does the free-zone location guarantee faster delivery to Latin America?: No. The location can support regional distribution, but actual timing depends on the ocean routing, transshipment, terminal handling, customs status, warehouse processing and inland delivery arrangement.
What is the main cause of avoidable delay?: Common preventable causes include inconsistent consignee information, incomplete packing data, late dangerous-goods declarations, missed warehouse or terminal cut-offs, and truck dispatch before release or appointment confirmation.

Data Sources & Provenance

Hard identifiers, name, country, city, coordinates, port codes and historical description in this module are taken from the supplied PACOL port record. Operational statements are presented as planning guidance for a free-zone re-export hub and must be confirmed against the nominated carrier, terminal, warehouse and customs process.

Free-zone institutional reference: zolicol.gob.pa
Panama Canal and canal transit context: pancanal.com
Panama customs authority reference: ana.gob.pa

No terminal-specific berth, draft, capacity, sailing frequency, tariff, fixed transit time or operating-hour figure is stated here because such parameters vary by facility, carrier, cargo type and date and require direct operational confirmation.