Recognized as one of the most dynamic port complexes in the Caribbean region of Colombia, the Port of Barranquilla continues to consolidate its leadership year after year as one of the country’s main cargo-handling terminals, being strategic not only by the volumes of goods handled and the variety of products that pass through it, but also by its role in foreign trade, its impact on logistical competitiveness, and its attraction of national and foreign investment. It currently concentrates a large part of the export of products such as coke and the import of industrial inputs, mainly steel, being of interest for various productive sectors.
According to figures from the Superintendency of Transportation, this terminal concentrates 7.8% of the country’s foreign trade. However, its importance goes far beyond that number since, with its geographic location, its articulation with free trade zones, its maritime and digital connectivity, and its growing business ecosystem, it is one of the country’s most strategic logistics platforms.
Key Location and Maritime Connectivity
One of the greatest advantages of the Port of Barranquilla is its geographic location on the Magdalena River, which allows it to have a direct connection to the interior of the country and immediate access to the Caribbean Sea. This connectivity allows companies to take advantage of maritime international routes and river routes that connect with the main industrial areas of Antioquia, Santander, Cundinamarca, and the Coffee Axis.
The port is located five to eight days of maritime transit from the east coast of the United States, Colombia’s main trading partner, with which it has a trade relationship accounting for approximately 30% of total exports. In addition, the connection to the Panama Canal allows it to become part of some of the most important commercial routes in the world, benefiting exporting companies and those that depend on the import of strategic inputs.
Juan Pablo Ospina, president of Grupo Coremar, states that Barranquilla has not only first-class port infrastructure but also a collaborative business environment where sector growth is promoted: “When investors have to make decisions, they are also making life decisions, and Barranquilla is the perfect place to do that”.
Industrial Ecosystem, Free Trade Zones and Business Parks
Another of the factors that makes the Port of Barranquilla highly competitive is the direct relationship that it has with a robust industrial ecosystem. According to ProBarranquilla, the city has five free trade zones that allow companies located in these areas to benefit from tax and customs advantages such as reduced income tax rates, tariff exemptions, and simplified regimes for the movement of goods. This, in addition to other factors such as logistical availability and competitive operating costs, makes this region an ideal destination for companies with a foreign trade focus.
It also has 28 industrial parks, eight port terminals, and 22 business centers. “It is an extensive infrastructure of logistical, productive, and administrative services that meets any need of scale and efficiency,” says Vicky Osorio, executive director of ProBarranquilla, who adds that location combined with infrastructure constitutes a difficult duplication: “We have everything that companies need to grow, export, and strengthen their logistics processes.”
The La Cayena Free Trade Zone is an example of how these areas have become an important driver of export growth and diversification of the country’s export portfolio. It is the second in the country in terms of positive trade balance and has 1.5 million m² and 70% occupancy, with 32 companies, 65% of which are exporters.
Digital Connectivity and Telecommunications
High-level digital connectivity is another differentiating element of Barranquilla’s port and productive infrastructure. Of the ten submarine cables that arrive in Colombia, four land on the Atlantic coast and one, the ARCOS-2, directly connects Barranquilla with Miami, the nerve center of telecommunications in North America. In this way, lower latencies and data transmission speeds superior to those in other regions of Colombia become a very attractive value proposition for technology companies, data centers, outsourced service providers (BPO), and companies that depend on the immediacy of digital processes.
The stability and capacity of these connections have led to the attraction of international technology companies that see Barranquilla as an ideal place to manage regional operations, technical support, and digital services.
Cargo Movement and Growth Estimates
Due to various events between January and September of this year that affected cargo movement and reduced it to 9.6 million tons, the sector faces a period of recovery in the coming months. Lucas Ariza, director of Asoportuaria, says that the Port of Barranquilla is part of a logistics network that complements other ports such as Cartagena and Santa Marta. The first operates as an international transshipment port, and Barranquilla enjoys receiving and distributing part of that cargo depending on the destinations and commercial routes of each shipment.
Routes to Miami, Savannah, China, or Europe influence the redistribution of these shipments. Although Cartagena has better global connectivity, Barranquilla provides agile and efficient operations that avoid congestion and allow shorter transit times for exporters and importers, being able to handle shipments without restrictions, even in peak periods, making it an attractive option for sectors such as manufacturing, metallurgy, petrochemicals, agribusiness, and general trade.
It is estimated that by the end of 2025, the port, which today has 10 terminals, will exceed 13 million tons of import and export cargo thanks to new investments in dredging, dock expansion, and the acquisition of higher-capacity equipment.
Economic Impact and Generation of Investment
The growth and dynamism of the Port of Barranquilla have also led to the entry of new companies and the expansion of industrial operations within the port complex’s area of influence. According to ProBarranquilla, investment in the manufacturing industry in this sector has grown from USD 1.53 billion in 2020 to USD 2.7 billion for the 2024-2025 biennium, due to a diverse series of factors such as logistical advantages, the availability of industrial land, digital connectivity, and the competitiveness of the free trade zone regulations.
Companies like Hada, which originated in Manizales, have found in Barranquilla a center for producing goods for the U.S. market. The company currently produces 40% of the bar soap consumed in the United States in Barranquilla and supplies important customers such as P&G, Henkel, Johnson, and Natura. The free trade zone regime, which ensures tax stability and competitiveness for international markets, has been key in these decisions.
Conclusion: A Strategic Port for Colombia’s Logistics Scene
The Port of Barranquilla is positioning itself as a logistics hub that integrates geographic advantages, industrial infrastructure, digital connectivity, and favorable conditions for the generation of investment. In a world that is increasingly competitive, Colombia needs ports that can meet the demands of international markets, and Barranquilla is one of the main cornerstones for doing so.