Puerto Cortés
Honduras
Technical sheet of Puerto Cortés: Honduras' main port and a reference containerized hub in the Central American Atlantic (CA-4), operated by OPC/ICTSI since 2014, with high investment, scaled TEU capacity, doubled productivity and CSI certification for trade with the United States.
General information
Official name
Puerto Cortés
Location
Cortés, north coast of Honduras
Approximate coordinates
15.8397° N, 87.9498° W
Maritime zone
Caribbean Sea / Atlantic
Port type
Multi-purpose, containerized, bulk and liquid-bulk commercial
Concession operator
Operadora Portuaria Centroamericana (OPC)
Operator group
International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI)
Concession start
2014
Main technical specifications
Coast / sea
Caribbean / Atlantic
Operator
OPC / ICTSI (since 2014)
Focus
Containers, general cargo, solid bulk, mineral bulk and liquid bulk
Indicative TEU/year capacity
> 1 million
Productivity (2024 reference)
> 38 moves/hour
Berth 6 — depth
14 meters
Notable certification
CSI (U.S. CBP)
Main linked market
United States
Port infrastructure
Strategic importance
Puerto Cortés is Honduras' main port and the one with the highest maritime movement in the Atlantic within the CA-4 bloc:
- Honduras.
- Guatemala.
- El Salvador.
- Nicaragua.
Functional role of the port
- Honduras' main containerized hub.
- Logistics center of the Central American Caribbean.
- Regional export and import platform.
Modernization and concession (2014+)
Since 2014, under OPC/ICTSI administration, the port has undergone a significant transformation in:
- Infrastructure.
- Technology.
- Productivity.
- Port security.
Strategic investment
IndicatorAccumulated investment
- Value
- > US$280 million
IndicatorModernization start
- Value
- 2014
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Accumulated investment | > US$280 million |
| Modernization start | 2014 |
The investments included:
- Terminal expansion.
- Modern port equipment.
- Operational automation.
- Logistics optimization.
Operating capacity — Container movement
IndicatorAnnual capacity
- Value
- > 1 million TEUs
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual capacity | > 1 million TEUs |
This positions Puerto Cortés as:
- One of the most efficient ports in Central America.
- The main containerized center of the CA-4 Atlantic.
Port productivity
Operational efficiency improved dramatically between 2014 and 2024:
Moves per hour (reference)
Year2014
- Moves per hour
- ~19
Year2024
- Moves per hour
- >38
| Year | Moves per hour |
|---|---|
| 2014 | ~19 |
| 2024 | >38 |
This increase reflects:
- Greater automation.
- Better equipment.
- Optimization of logistics processes.
Maritime infrastructure — Berth 6
Berth 6 is one of the port's main operational strengths.
FeatureDepth
- Detail
- 14 meters
FeatureService type
- Detail
- Deep-draft vessels
FeatureOperating restrictions
- Detail
- No relevant restrictions
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Depth | 14 meters |
| Service type | Deep-draft vessels |
| Operating restrictions | No relevant restrictions |
This enables:
- Reception of Post-Panamax vessels.
- Greater efficiency in international trade.
- Regional competitiveness against other Caribbean ports.
Security and certifications — Container Security Initiative (CSI)
Puerto Cortés is the only port among the CA-4 countries and Belize that holds the Container Security Initiative (CSI) certification from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
CSI benefits:
BenefitAdvance inspection
- Impact
- Greater security
BenefitCustoms agility
- Impact
- Shorter clearance time
BenefitCommercial priority
- Impact
- Efficient access to the U.S.
BenefitLogistics confidence
- Impact
- Greater competitiveness
| Benefit | Impact |
|---|---|
| Advance inspection | Greater security |
| Customs agility | Shorter clearance time |
| Commercial priority | Efficient access to the U.S. |
| Logistics confidence | Greater competitiveness |
This makes Puerto Cortés:
- A strategic port for regional exporters.
- A priority platform for trade with the United States.
Operational specialization
Puerto Cortés handles:
- Containers.
- General cargo.
- Solid bulk: grains, fertilizers, agro-industrial raw materials and dry bulk cargo.
- Mineral and inorganic bulk: stone aggregates, minerals, coal, petcoke and industrial products.
- Liquid bulk: fuels, petroleum derivatives and other industrial liquids.
- Industrial exports.
- Agro-industrial products.
- Commercial imports.
Operational draft by berth
BerthBerth 1
- Main use
- Liquid bulk
- Draft
- 11.5 m
BerthBerth 1A
- Main use
- Liquid bulk
- Draft
- 11.5 m
BerthBerth 2 (Avanza)
- Main use
- Mineral and inorganic bulk
- Draft
- 14 m
BerthBerth 3A
- Main use
- Solid bulk
- Draft
- 11.5 m
BerthBerth 3B
- Main use
- Solid bulk
- Draft
- 12.5 m
BerthBerth 4
- Main use
- General cargo
- Draft
- 10.5 m
BerthBerth 6
- Main use
- Containers (OPC/ICTSI)
- Draft
- 14 m
| Berth | Main use | Draft |
|---|---|---|
| Berth 1 | Liquid bulk | 11.5 m |
| Berth 1A | Liquid bulk | 11.5 m |
| Berth 2 (Avanza) | Mineral and inorganic bulk | 14 m |
| Berth 3A | Solid bulk | 11.5 m |
| Berth 3B | Solid bulk | 12.5 m |
| Berth 4 | General cargo | 10.5 m |
| Berth 6 | Containers (OPC/ICTSI) | 14 m |
Port infrastructure — Puerto Cortés specialized terminals
In addition to the container and general-cargo terminal operated by OPC/ICTSI, Puerto Cortés has specialized infrastructure for handling solid bulk, mineral bulk, dry bulk cargo and liquid products, strengthening its profile as a strategic multi-purpose port for Honduras and the region.
Solid bulk terminal — Berths 3A and 3B
Berths 3A and 3B are part of the infrastructure dedicated to solid bulk cargo, including grains, fertilizers, agro-industrial raw materials and other dry import and export products. This terminal is key to national supply, especially given its relationship with basic consumer goods, animal feed, agribusiness and supply chains linked to Honduran foreign trade.
Solid bulk operations allow Puerto Cortés to serve specialized vessels through direct discharge systems, use of ship cranes, hoppers, conveyor belts, trucks and storage areas according to the type of product, operating conditions and the requirements of the importer or exporter.
Avanza terminal (Berth 2) — Mineral and inorganic bulk
Puerto Cortés also has specialized infrastructure operated by Avanza on Berth 2, with a 14 m draft —the deepest on the Atlantic coast of Central America—, oriented to port logistics solutions for the inorganic mineral and liquid bulk market. This terminal complements the port's capacity to handle cargoes such as stone aggregates, minerals, coal, petcoke and other industrial products.
The addition of specialized infrastructure for this type of cargo helps decongest other areas of the port, improve operating times and strengthen the competitiveness of Puerto Cortés as a logistics center of the Central American Caribbean.
Liquid terminals — Berths 1 and 1A
Berths 1 and 1A handle operations related to bulk liquid products, including fuels, petroleum derivatives and other industrial liquids, according to the capacities of the terminals and the operating requirements of each facility.
These terminals are strategic for the country's energy security, as they enable the reception, discharge, transfer and storage of liquid products through specialized infrastructure, connections to storage terminals, pumping systems, dedicated lines and safety controls applicable to this type of cargo.
Operational importance
The existence of terminals specialized in containers, solid bulk, mineral bulk and liquids makes Puerto Cortés a comprehensive port, able to serve different segments of international maritime trade. This diversification enables:
- Greater capacity to serve different types of vessels and cargo.
- Reduction of operational congestion through specialized terminals.
- Better logistics efficiency for importers and exporters.
- Direct support to strategic sectors such as energy, agribusiness, construction, manufacturing and regional trade.
- Greater competitiveness against other ports of the Caribbean and Central America.
Strategic advantages
AdvantageLargest CA-4 Atlantic port
- Impact
- Regional leadership
AdvantageCSI certification
- Impact
- Advantage over competition
AdvantageOperating depth
- Impact
- Reception of large vessels
AdvantageHigh productivity
- Impact
- Shorter logistics times
AdvantageConnection with the U.S.
- Impact
- Efficient international trade
| Advantage | Impact |
|---|---|
| Largest CA-4 Atlantic port | Regional leadership |
| CSI certification | Advantage over competition |
| Operating depth | Reception of large vessels |
| High productivity | Shorter logistics times |
| Connection with the U.S. | Efficient international trade |
Regional comparison
PortPuerto Cortés
- Country
- Honduras
- Specialty
- Containers and CSI
PortPuerto Santo Tomás de Castilla
- Country
- Guatemala
- Specialty
- Refrigerated and energy
PortPuerto Quetzal
- Country
- Guatemala
- Specialty
- Mass bulk
PortPuerto de Acajutla
- Country
- El Salvador
- Specialty
- Energy and bulk
| Port | Country | Specialty |
|---|---|---|
| Puerto Cortés | Honduras | Containers and CSI |
| Puerto Santo Tomás de Castilla | Guatemala | Refrigerated and energy |
| Puerto Quetzal | Guatemala | Mass bulk |
| Puerto de Acajutla | El Salvador | Energy and bulk |
Coordinates and navigation
ElementLatitude
- Information
- 15.8397° N
ElementLongitude
- Information
- 87.9498° W
ElementMaritime zone
- Information
- Western Caribbean
ElementOperation type
- Information
- Containerized and multi-purpose
| Element | Information |
|---|---|
| Latitude | 15.8397° N |
| Longitude | 87.9498° W |
| Maritime zone | Western Caribbean |
| Operation type | Containerized and multi-purpose |
Executive summary
Key indicatorOperator
- Value
- OPC / ICTSI
Key indicatorInvestment since 2014
- Value
- > US$280 million
Key indicatorAnnual capacity
- Value
- >1 million TEUs
Key indicatorProductivity 2024
- Value
- >38 moves/hour
Key indicatorBerth 6 depth
- Value
- 14 m
Key indicatorStrategic certification
- Value
- CSI
Key indicatorMain market
- Value
- United States
| Key indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Operator | OPC / ICTSI |
| Investment since 2014 | > US$280 million |
| Annual capacity | >1 million TEUs |
| Productivity 2024 | >38 moves/hour |
| Berth 6 depth | 14 m |
| Strategic certification | CSI |
| Main market | United States |