El Salvador - 2 Logistics Infrastructure

El Salvador - 2 Logistics Infrastructure

 

 

According to the World Bank´s Logistics Performance Index El Salvador by 2023 had a score of 2.7.  The country was placed as the second country with most difficulties to get into the global economy through commerce. This was due to the low logistics performance.  

On the roads side, El Salvador in 2015 was the second country of the region for having the best roads. As of 2017 the total of paved roads was 3,748.89kms. By 2020, the country accounts 4,033.25km paved roads and 2,394.76km of non-paved roads. Due to the increase of traffic, new roads had to be open, i.e.: peripheral rings of Sonsonate and San Miguel.  

As of 2019, El Salvador´s traffic has increased not only by the increase of vehicles, but also due to the public transportation disorder and its contamination due to the bad conditions of the buses. According to the vice-Ministry of Transportation the number of vehicles in 2019 was 1,237,000 with a monthly increase of 1.2%, which means 8,000 vehicles a month.  This increase of vehicles has also congested the two main roads (littoral and Pan-American), which also is occupied by heavy trucks traveling along the central American countries. 

El Salvador has two ports, Puerto de Acajutla and La Union. Acajutla port is the main port fully working receiving cargo ships. El Puerto de La Union was constructed by JICA (2005), however it operates an average of 8 ships a month. It is expected that this year it can operate in a project together with Port Calderas in Costa Rica. The project is to transport loaded trucks on a ferry between the two countries. It is worth to mention that at the same time the port of La Union was under construction, the Ministry of Education launched Logistics as a career to study so there would be prepared personnel to work on said port. Unfortunately, most of the graduates had to find jobs in other areas or are jobless.  

At the moment El Salvador has the following ongoing projects: 

  1. A second USA Millennium project to improve the Litoral highway, and such the improvement of commerce on that area. 

  1. A ferry between La Union port in El Salvador and Calderas Port in Costa Rica for the use of a ferry to transport loaded trucks. This will enable the transit that is blocked at the border Nicaragua-Costa Rica. 

  1. MOARG International Airport is still expanding, operating at 100%. The improvements are more space in the waiting area, more shops and expanded space for more planes. 

  1. Construction of a peripheral ring road in San Miguel area for heavy transport go straight to El Amatillo border. This will help to decongest La Ruta Militar road, which crosses around San Miguel.  

 

 

 

 

 

El Salvador - 2.1 Port Assessment

 

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El Salvador has a versatile port infrastructure to meet the needs of maritime cargo effectively. The two main ports are Acajutla, located in the western region of the country and mainly specialized in handling bulk cargo, and La Union, located in the eastern region and designed especially for containerized cargo. 

 Port of Acajutla 

The port of Acajutla has three modern terminals equipped for the arrival of all types of vessels, storage areas and specialized handling cargo equipment. 

Port of La Unión 

The Port of La Union is the largest port of El Salvador, and is projected as one of the most important and modern port infrastructures in Central America: 

  • Designed for large vessels such as the Post-Panamax type vessels, giving the port a competitive advantage in the region. 
  • Strategically located in the centre of the region, between Mexico and Panama. 
  • The newest maritime terminal with an expansion potential up to three times its current size. 
  • Contributes to the aim of the Government of El Salvador to turn the country into a distribution and logistics centre for Central America. 

Foreign trade follows the following routes: towards Central America, by land and by sea, trade uses the ports located both on the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. On the Pacific side, the ports of Acajutla are used for El Salvador and Port Quetzal for Guatemala; the Port of La Unión is to enter operations in the near term. The other route is through the Atlantic using Port Barrios in Guatemala, and to a lesser degree Port Cortés in Honduras.

 

 

El Salvador - 2.1.1 Port of Acajutla

Port Overview

Port of Acajutla is a modern industrial Pacific Ocean port located in the the municipal of Acajutla in the Department of Sonsonate, southwest of El Salvador, 85 km from the capital San Salvador. Acajutla has 3 piers with 8 total docs, with offshore, privately owned, moorings available.  The port tends to service an average of 49 ships per month, carrying containers, general cargo ships and fuel which are attended to at an offshore terminal.  Adverse weather conditions, strong ocean currents, affect the port from April to June sometimes requiring ships to leave their berths. This phenomenon mainly affects QUAY B.

PORT’s LOCATION & CONTACTS

Country

El Salvador

Province and District

Sonsonate Department

Town or City (Closest)

Acajutla

Port Name

Acajutla

Latitude

 13º 43' 30'' N       

Longitude

 89º 50' 00´W

Company / Port Authority

Acajutla Port

Management contact and Position

Roberto Mendoza (Port Manager)

Management contact and Position

 

Key port information can also be found at: http://www.maritime-database.com/ports/topports.php

For more information on port contacts, please see the following link: 4.4 El Salvador Port and Waterways Company Contact List

Port Picture

Port Performance

The port is equipped with a system of conveyer belts for handling bulk grain shipments; there is only one berth that can service ships with the conveyer belt system at one time. Vessels should have no more than 10m of bathymetry if the conveyer is desired/foreseen. No priority is given to humanitarian cargo by the port and ships are attended to on a first-come first-serve basis. Storage capacity are as follows, Pier “A”, one covered warehouse 4,500 m², on land 4 covered facilities totaling 22,600 m². The conveyer belt system is run by two private companies, ALCASA and ALMAPAC. Bulk cargo is automatically transferred to their silos when the conveyer system is utilised.  The silos at ALCASA have capacities of 143,000 mt, 47,000 mt in silos and 96,000 mt of storage is available in horizontal warehouses. ALCASA has the capacity to bag and dispatch 500 mt of product per day. ALMAPAC has a capacity of 120,000 mt in horizontal warehouses and 16,000 mt in silos. Bagging charge for ALMAPAC is US $2.60 / MT.

PERFORMANCE FOR 1ST QUARTER (2019)

Vessels calls

N/A

Container traffic (TEUs)

62,429

Total cargo handling (m. tons)

512,560.88

Total annual capacity of the port

The port has a capacity to service 8 vessels simultaneously and can store 3,400 containers.

CAPACITY for 1ST QUARTER (2019):

Bulk

Container

Conventional

MT / 1 QTER

TEU’s / 1QTER

MT / 1 QTER

Export activity of the Port

262,007.02

31,731

130.32

Import activity of the port

540,751.73

30,698

122,743.35

Discharge Rates

Link to relevant tariff/rates web page: http://www.puertoacajutla.gob.sv/regimen.php

Pilotage fees

Link to relevant website (e.g. for updates): http://www.puertoacajutla.gob.sv/regimen.php.sectionVI

Tug Services

Link to relevant website (e.g. for updates): http://www.puertoacajutla.gob.sv/regimen.php

 

Mooring Services

Mooring Service (Rate per operation)

Charge (indicate currency)

Mooring, un-mooring or other similar service

Mooring service US $9/MT and the use of mooring US $105.00/calibrate/day or fraction

 

Port and harbour dues

Vessel Description (rate = 100 GRT or part thereof

Charge (indicate currency)

All vessels other than those exempted

US $0.31/GRT; Minimum to be charged US $195.50

 

Dockage, Buoy age and anchorage

Vessel Description (Rates = per meter/per hour)

Charge (indicate currency)

Vessels at piers, wharves or jetties

For each meter length per day or fraction US $2.92; Minimum charged US $148.75 /day or fraction

Vessels at buoys or Ro-Ro vessels berthed stern to quay

N/A

Vessels at anchorage; except at Port Convenience

N/A

 

Supply of Fresh water

Vessel Description (Rates = per ton)

Charge (indicate currency)

Via shore hydrants

US $1.64/MT

In stream (including towage of Barge)

N/A

 

Laying up of vessels

Vessel Description (Rates = per ton)

Charge (indicate currency)

Via shore hydrants

N/A

In stream (including towage of Barge)

N/A

 

Charges for general services - Hire of labour and equipment

Service (Per hour of part thereof)

Charge 

Floating Crane, incl. of minimum crew and exclusive of towage

N/A

Mobile Crane more than 35 tons inclusive of driver Pier B

US$/hour or fraction US $136.81

Load/unload unit Pier B

US$/hour or fraction US $222.07

VIP launch inclusive of crew

N/A

Pilot boat inclusive of crew

US $98.42/vessel

Fire appliance inclusive of minimum crew

N/A

Tipper truck or flatbed lorry inclusive of driver

Head terminal US $44.22/hour or fraction; Platform US$17.98/hour or fraction.

Forklift or Tractor more than 5 tons inclusive of driver

Up to 6,000 pounds US$/hour or fraction US $31.24.

Forklift or Tractor less than 5 tons or equal of inclusive of driver

More than 6000 pounds US $26.75.

Van, Pick-up or Saloon Car inclusive of driver

With capacity up to 30TM US$/hour or fraction US $4.62; with capacity more than 30TM US $9.98/hour or fraction

Management or supervisory staff

This service is included in the previous specified fee

Skilled staff: e.g. Crane or Forklift Driver, Artisan, Firemen or Clerk

Included  in the equipment renting fee

Semi-skilled staff: e.g. Laborer, Watchman

Included in the equipment renting fee

Berthing equipment specifications

PORT SPECIFICATIONS

TOTAL BERTHS:

Quantity

Length (m)

Draft (m)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conventional Berths

 

 

 

 

 

 

8

 

 

 

Pier A: Front Berthing 321 m

 

Pier B: Front Berthing   North side: 348m, South side: 318m

 

Pier C: For Multipurpose, Front Berthing 280m

Pier A-1: FWD 8.84 m

               AFT 10.30 m

Pier A-2: FWD 10.30m

              AFT 11.00 m

Pier B-3: FWD 8.23 m

               AFT 10.70m

Pier B-4: FWD 10.70m

               AFT 11.5m

Pier B-5: FWD 7.01m

               AFT 9.2m

Pier B-6: FWD 9.2m

               AFT 9.5m

Pier C-7: WFD 11.89m

               AFT 12.5m

Pier C-8: WFD 10.5m

               AFT 14.39m

The above measures are taken during low tide.

Container Berths

There is no specific container berth

 

 

Bulk Oil Jetties

N/A

215

15

Cased Oil Jetties

N/A

n/a

n/a

Bulk Cement Berths

N/A

N/a

n/a

Lighter age & Dhow (other) Wharves

3

n/a

n/a

Explosives Jetty

N/A

n/a

n/a

Berthing Tugs & Mooring Boats

4

 

  

Pilot Boats

2

 

 

Water Barges

N/A

 

 

Police Boats

2

 

 

Anti-pollution Boats

N/A

 

 

Speed Boats

N/A

 

 

 

General services

Service (Per day of part thereof)

Charge (indicate currency)

Bagging plant operators, per unit of plant

Not available in port but services can be provided by a private company

Vacuvators, per unit of plant

N/A

Bunker Supplier

N/A

Bunkering Agent

US $500 - per ship

Barge operator, per barge

N/A

Fresh Water suppliers (road tankers)

US $1.32/MT

Ship Contractors

N/A

Ship Chandlers

N/A

Safety equipment supplier & service

N/A

Marine Contractors

N/A

Scrap Metal Dealers

N/A

Ship Watchmen Supplier

N/A

Marine Engineer

N/A

Marine Surveyor

US $1,500 - per day

Ship Surveyor

US $1,500 - per day

Cargo Surveyor

US $1,500 - per day

Sludge Collector

N/A

Small Boat Operator

N/A

 

Port cargo handling equipment

PORT CARGO EQUIPMENT (OPERATIONAL)

Appliance

Quantity

Capacity

Traveling cranes

No traveling cranes

 

Portal Electric cranes

No portal electric cranes

 

Electric overhead electric cranes

No electric overhead cranes

 

Gantry container cranes

1

430 MT conveyor belt system for bulk cargo, Pneumatic unloader for bulk cargo

Mobile Cranes

3

2 traveling cranes with a capacity of 25 MT and 35 MT

Freight Elevator

60

6,000 pound  to 5 MT capacity

Clamp Freight Elevator

3

8,000 pound capacity

Forklift Trucks

5

8,000 pound capacity

Forklift for Taylor containers

1

 

Tractors trucks and trailers

14

 

Tractor

16

10,000 pound capacity

Fire engines

1 only

 

Clamshell buckets

16

 

Metal Hopper

7

 

Container spreader

6

 

Front loading Units

10

 

Crawler Tractor

17

 

Straddle Carriers

5

 

Light Truck

43

30 MT to 50 MT

Tugs

6

1: 900HP, 1: 600HP, 2: 38.2 MT bp and 2: 250HP to carry pilot between wharf and vessel. Tugs are also used for mooring and unmooring vessels at buoys.

Band System connected to main plants, reception and export

1

500 MT/hr capacity

 

Container Facilities

With an area of 48,500m2 and with a capacity of 2,778 TEUS, stowed at three levels, and being able to attend simultaneously 160 cold containers.

CONTAINER FACILITIES

 

 

20 ft (TEUs)

40 ft (TEUs)

Container facilities

Yes

Yes

Daily off-take capacity (No of containers/hour)                    

25-30

There is no distinction

Container Freight Stations (CFS)

Yes

Yes

Number of CFS

1

1

Capacity of CFS        (No of containers/hour)

25 to 30

There is no distinction

Refrigerated Container Stations

Yes

Yes

Number of Stations (connection points)

101

There is no distinction

Capacity area

48,000 m2 container yard with 2,514 TEU of storage capacity (three high) and 120 reefer plugs

General Cargo handling berths

General Cargo – Imports

Berths

Imports – Bagged Cargo

US$6.64/MT

Exports – Bagged Cargo

US$6.64/MT

Imports – Steel Goods

US$3.62/MT

Imports & Exports – Ro-Ro

US$11.98/MT

Imports – Vehicles

US$11.98/MT

Others Imports

Sugar in bags US$5.24 , Cement in bags US$9.24

Terminal Information

Oil Handling Terminal

The port of Acajutla is a multipurpose port, consisting of three quays called A, B and C, designed to accommodate vessels with average lengths of 150 meters. The loading or unloading of bulk liquid is carried out through pipes installed by different companies on the docks A and C. Likewise there are three private terminals handling liquid bulk outside the docks. The first terminal is owned by the company Refinery Port of Acajutla (RASA), the second one is owned by the Company CENERGICA. A third one is owned by ALBA Petroleum. CEPA has no storage tanks for liquid bulk, the goods move from Muller tanks owned by private enterprises or vice versa. When the ships arrive in port and conduct their operations on the docks, they are placed in positions of berthing previously allocated by CEPA, right on the sites where importing or exporting companies have installed their inlet pipes to conduct discharge from the docks to storage tanks or vice versa.

The main imported products are mobilised: Ethanol or alcohol, petrol and diesel; the main export products are: Ethanol Alcohol and molasses or cane.

Multipurpose terminal

Port Acajutla is a multipurpose port and there is not a specific multipurpose terminal.

Grain / Bulk handling

The discharge of solid bulk can be done in any of the quays of the Acajutla Port, in two ways:

  • Using Conventional Methods: The download is done using cranes of the ship. The product is moved from the holds of the ship to dump located on the docks, and after it is placed in transport units to be moved towards private storage companies outside the port or into cellars strains known as BIN (whose capacity Storage is 18,000 MT).
  • Using System High Performance: The download is done using a crane, which is connected to a conveyor system to move the product from the holds of the ship directly in the company’s storage, or by downloading from the cellars of the ship by conveyor belt and deposited in the transport units to be further moved to companies’ private storage outside the port or into cellars known as BIN.

The main bulk of solid imported are: corn, soy flour, wheat, rice, coal, urea fertilizer formulas, ammonium sulphate. The operations of all ships arriving at Port Companies are performed by six private contractors, who assign strains ships under a pre-established procedure.

A) Main Silo terminal: Warehouse for storing bulk solids for export fitted with 2,400 m2 with a capacity of 12,000 MT, it is equipped with a conveyor system for handling cargo. The warehouse for the storage of solid bulk import has an area of 2,500 m2 and a capacity of 18,000 MT, spread over 6 bins of 1,000 MT and another 6 of 2,000 MT each. The warehouse is equipped with a system of belts.

B) Main storage terminal: It has a roofed area of 26,300 m2 to store up to 113,900 MT of various products.

C) 48,000 m2 container yard with 2,514 TEU of storage capacity (three high) and 120 reefer plugs.

D) 35,000 m2 storage yard for up to 2,000 vehicles.

ALMAPAC (Almacenadora del Pacifico): Company specialised in the handling of food and industrial products, solid or liquid. It is located inside the port terminal.

Solid products:

  • 6 warehouse 210,000 MT
  • 4 metallic silos 10,000 MT
  • 6 concrete silos 6,000 MT

Liquid products:

  • 3 tanks for grease 2,200 MT
  • 6 tanks for molasses 52,000 MT

General:

  • 1 Warehouse general use:  3,000 MT

Container yard:

  • 1 Yard for repair/storage of empty containers           4,000 TEU

Bagging: US$ 2.60 / MT

Address:

Final zona industrial del Puerto de Acajutla, Departamento de Sonsonate.

Tel.: (503) 2445-8900

Fax: (503) 2445-8907

www.almapac.com

ALCASA (Almacenadora Centroamericana S.A. de C.V): This company provides a specializsd service in the handling and warehousing of cereals and grains in transit, as well as general products. They provide services of reception, bagging, warehousing and delivery. ALCASA has the capacity to bag and dispatch 500 MT of product per day.

  • 7 Automatic and non-automatic warehouses with a total capacity of 96,000 MT
  • 3 Concrete Silos with a capacity of 47,100 MT.
  • Conveyor belts connected to the port with a capacity of 500 MT/Hour.
  • 6 Hopper
  • 3 Electronic platform scales
  • 1 Weighbridge
  • Open area of 30,000 m2.

Address:

Planta ALCASA, Zona industrial Puerto de Acajutla, Sonsonate

Tel. 2429-7700

Fax: 2452-3131

http://www.alcasa.com.sv/

info@alcasa.com.sv

Stevedoring

CEPA outsourced the handling/stevedoring services to 3 different companies, counting on about 635 workers. Furthermore, CEPA has contracted 4 private companies for the management of about 195 staff for cleaning and maintenance.

 

Conventional cargo

Other Services

Charge (indicate currency)

Mail per bag, or ships stores per package

N/A

Returning empty bags

N/A

Repairs in the breakage room per package

N/A

Crated animals, per cubic meter of crate

Animals in foot US$ 3.53/unit

Animals handled by sling

Animals in foot US$ 3.53/unit

Animals walked on/off board

Animals in foot US$ 3.53/unit

 

Hatch and other than standard freight

Stevedoring – Large Packaged Articles

Charge (indicate currency)

From 14 DWT to 40 DWT

US$ 2.95/MT

Over 40 DWT

US$ 2.95/MT

 

Containerized cargo

Containerized Cargo Handling Charges

 

 

 

(TEUs)

 (FEUs)

Discharge, loading, shifting within the hold or shifting on deck without landing

US$ 13.97/container

US$13.97/container 20´

Containers handled via a conventional ship

US$36.93/container

US$ 36.93/container

Containers handled on a Ro-Ro basis

N/A

N/A

Empty containers

US$19.32/container

US$19.34/container 20´

Transshipment containers, overland containers, containers

shipped & re-landed or landed & re-shipped or shifted from hold to hold

US$26.44/MT

US$26.44/MT

Stripping or Stuffing of Containers

 

 

 

(TEUs)

 (FEUs)

Stripping or Stuffing

US$3.06/MT

US$3.06/MT

Stripping and re-stuffing transshipment cargo

US$3.06/MT

US$3.06/MT

 

Other container handling services

Other Container Handling Charges

 

 

 

(TEUs)

 (FEUs)

Cover or pontoons which can be lifted using a standard ISO twist lock spreader

N/A

N/A

Other cover or pontoon

N/A

N/A

Transfers to/from the Container Terminal

Assignable  to the consignee or shipper US$ 4.73/MT; assignable to the shipping firm US$ 10.87/MT

Assignable to the consignee or shipper US$ 4.73/MT; assignable to the shipping firm US$ 10.87/MT

Other transfers within the terminal are not charged

N/A

N/A

Handling of empty containers at ICD's

US $13.97/Cont

US $13.97/Cont

Reefer containers plugged onto reefer points

US $20.10

US $40.00

Storage of import empty containers from two days after arrival or empty export containers from date of loading

Daily cost US $1.20

 

Daily cost US $2.40

Storage of full import containers from date of arrival

Daily cost US $0.07 day 11th to 14th. After $ 0.23 P/MT

Daily cost (refrigerated)US$20.10

Daily cost US $2.40

Daily cost (refrigerated) US $30

 

Shore Handling - Conventional Cargo

Conventional Cargo (Rate per ton or part thereof)

Charge (indicate currency)

Direct discharge/loading of imports/exports

US $6.64/MT

Crude Petroleum Oil Imports

US $1.39 /MT

Other Liquid Bulk Imports

US $2.10 /MT/ by pipes, US $2.87/MT/by truck

Other Imports

N/A

Liquid Bulk Exports/Bunkering

N/A

Other Exports

N/A

Conventional Cargo (Rate per ton or part thereof)

Charge (indicate currency)

Import Cargo Handled at ICD's

US $13.97/cont

Export Cargo Handled at ICD's

US $13.97/cont.

Shut-out Cargo removed from the Port

N/A

Fumigation of Cargo

US $ 68.57/container  *

Palletizing/pre-slinging in the Port on request

N/A

Dangerous Cargo

N/A

Conventional Cargo (Rate per ton or part thereof)

Charge (indicate currency)

From 14 DWT to 40 DWT

US $11.91/MT

Over 40 DWT

US $11.91/MT

Hire of a gang

N/A

 

Shore handling - Containerized cargo

Shore Handling charges

 

 

 

(TEUs)

 (FEUs)

Import Containers

US $33.66/container

US $33.66/container

Export Containers

US $33.66/container

US $33.66/container

Stripping & re-stuffing for customs verification

US $13.97/container

US $13.97/container

Stripping & re-stuffing of un-nominated or shut-out export cargo

US $13.97/container

US $13.97/container

Stripping or re-stuffing of containers taken to Customs

Warehouse

N/A

N/A

Shore Handling charges

Charge (indicate currency)

Ten day removal charges, or transfer within the Port, or transfer to

Customs

US $13.97

Import Containers handled at the Inland Container Depots

N/A

Exports Containers handled at the Inland Container Depots

N/A

Domestic FCL Container Charges

 

 

 

(TEUs)

 (FEUs)

The first 5 days

US $0.07 p/TM

US $0.07 p/TM

From day 6th to 15th

US $0.23 p/TM

US $0.23 P/TM

16th  day thereafter

US $0.47 P/TM

US $0.47 P/TM

Clearing Agents

Company Name and address

Contact Names / Email

Tel / Fax

Website

Blue Logistics, Edif. 15 Norte, Parque de servicios Export Salva Km. 24 Carr. A Santa Ana, La Libertad

Name: Boris Leon

Email:info@bluelogistics.com.sv

Tel.(503) 2525 – 6800 / 2338 - 4425

 

www.bluelogistics.com.sv

Company Name and address

Contact Names / Email

Tel / Fax

Website

America Logistics Group /A.Bernal y Calle Sisimiles#592,Col Miramonte                                                                                                            

Email: info.sal@americalogisticsgroup.com

Tel:(503)2555 -2700

www.sistemasaereos.com

Port Security

SECURITY

ISPS Compliant

Yes

ISPS Level (current)

    2    

1=Normal; 2=Heightened; 3=Exceptional

Storage facilities

Port Storage

Total floor space - 119,000 m2

Quantity

 Floor area

Main Quay Transit Sheds

1

11,585 m2

Back of Port Transit Sheds

N/A

N/A

Lighterage Area Transit Sheds

N/A

N/A

Customs Warehouses

1

48,000 m2

 

 

 

 

 

El Salvador - 2.1.2 Port of La Unión

Port Overview 

The New Port of La Union is one of El Salvador’s main infrastructure with total investment US$200 million. It was inaugurated by GoES in June 2010. The project was financed by Japanese Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and a government agency, Comisión Ejecutiva Portuaria Autonoma (CEPA).   

Among the facilities that the Port of La Union offers to potential licensees include: high level of port infrastructure, with more than 50 ha of work (1 Stage), with deep-water docks where boats can dock Post Panama type that can mobilise up to 6500 TEUs; space for future development of facilities, road connectivity and the possibility of developing a rail connectivity.  

Port website: http://www.cepa.gob.sv/tag/puerto-la-union 

Key port information may also be found at: http://www.maritime-database.com 

Port Location and Contact 

Country 

El Salvador 

Province or District 

La Union 

Nearest Town or City 

with Distance from Port 

La Union  

DISTANCE (2km) 

Port's Complete Name 

Puerto de la Unión Centroamericana  

Latitude 

13° 20’ 9’’ north latitude 

Longitude 

 89° 03’ 20” west longitude 

Managing Company or Port Authority 

CEPA El Salvador – Comisión Ejecutiva Portuaria Autónoma  

Management Contact Person 

Federico Anliker 

Nearest Airport and Airlines with Frequent International Arrivals/Departures 

Airport of Ilopango, 177.6 km 

Port Picture 


 

Port Performance 

Since its inauguration in 2010, the port has been barely used (95 vessels between 2014 and 2017). The government of Japan, through JICA, in 2019, started an assessment to the port in order to support the improvement of the basis for economic and social development through the development of economic infrastructure. In addition, it will promote technical assistance that contributes to the activation of the Port, built under the Reimbursable Financial Cooperation scheme.  With this strategy is its hoped to define its role against Port of Acajutla and its complementarity to Puerto Cortes in Honduras and Port Santo Tomas de Castilla in Guatemala. 

Statistics for 2019 show a total reception of 21 vessels (18,041.19MT: 23,242 TEU).   

At the moment the type of ships that can enter to the port are those type of Panamax that mobilise 4,66 TEU or Post Panamax mobilising 6,500 TEU.  

 

Port size: small

Access Chanel: Dredging 13 million m3 approx. 

Interior Canal:   

  • Length: 5.0 km. 
  • Deep: 14.00 MT.  
  • Width: 140 MT. 
  • Signal Range: 3 Mn.  

  

Exterior Canal:

  • Length 17.00 Km. 
  • Deep: 14.50 MT. 
  • Width: 140 MT. 
  • Signal Range: 4 Mn 

 

Navigation Aids. 

  • 16 Marker buoys. 
  • GPS Radios
  • 1 Navigation Lighthouse  
  • Visibility: 22 Nautical Miles 

 

Seasonal Constraints 

 

Occurs 

Time Frame 

Rainy Season 

Yes  

From May to November 

Major Import Campaigns 

No 

 

 

Handling Figures for 2019 

Vessel Calls 

N/A 

Container Traffic (TEUs) 

873 (2011) 

 

Handling Figures Bulk and Break Bulk for 2019 

Bulk (MT) 

 

Break bulk (MT) 

17,452.06 

Discharge Rates and Terminal Handling Charges 

For information on port rates and charges, please see the following link:  https://www.transparencia.gob.sv/institutions/cepa/documents/servicios 

Berthing Specifications 

Type of Berth 

Quantity 

Length (m) 

Maximum Draft (m) 

Comments 

Conventional Berth 

1 

220 

10

 

Container Berth 

1 

340

15

Total area: 174,722 m2, Capacity: 350,000 TEUs 

Silo Berth 

No info 

No info 

No info 

 

Berthing Tugs 

None 

 

 

 

Water Barges 

By pipeline 

 

 

 

General Cargo Handling Berths 

Cargo Type 

Berth Identification 

Imports - Bagged Cargo 

No info 

Exports - Bagged Cargo 

No info 

Imports and Exports - RoRo 

No info 

Other Imports (2019) 

18,041.19 

Port Handling Equipment 

The port equipment is handled by governmental personnel. The equipment is not used 100% since very few vessels arrive there. 

Equipment 

Available  

Total Quantity and Capacity Available 

Comments on Current Condition and Actual Usage 

Dockside Crane 

 

No information 

No information

Container Gantries 

Yes  

4 

 

Mobile Cranes 

 

No information

No information

Reachstacker 

 

No information

No information

RoRo Tugmaster (with Trailer) 

Yes  

5 tugmasters, 5 trailers 

No information

Grain Elevator with Bagging Machines 

 

No information 

No information

Transtainer 

Yes  

4 

No information

Forklifts 

Yes  

4 / 6,000 lb 

 

Container Facilities 

Facilities for containers are mostly empty due that not many vessels arrive to the port. 

Facilities 

20 ft 

40 ft 

Container Facilities Available 

 

560 x 560 mts 

Container Freight Station (CFS) 

No information

 

Refrigerated Container Stations 

No information

 

Other Capacity Details 

No information

 

Daily Take Off Capacity  
(Containers per Day)  

No information

 

Number of Reefer Stations  
(Connection Points) 

No information

 

Emergency Take-off Capacity  

No information

 

Off take Capacity of Gang Shift 
(Containers per Shift)  

No information

 

Customs Guidance 

Although there is little movement at the port, Customs office is active. There is no information regarding on how long it takes to get shipment out of the port. 

There is also an office in La Union: 3ra calle Pte. Sector La esperanza, Colonia Belén, No. 22, La Union. Phone No.: +503 2604-4106 / 2637-0173. 

Terminal Information 

MULTIPURPOSE TERMINAL 

Multipurpose terminal is available with the following information:  

Berth length: 220 m 

Depth: -10 m 

Total area: 115,981 m2 

 

There is also a Ro Ro and passenger terminal with the following information: 

Berth length: 240 m 

Depth: -9.5 m 

Total area: 34,871 m2   

GRAIN AND BULK HANDLING 

There is no information with this regard. 

MAIN STORAGE TERMINAL 

There is a warehouse for general cargo, which is located at the multipurpose terminal and its working hours are as follow: 

  • Monday: 08:00 – 17:00hrs 
  • Tuesday to Thursday: 07:00 – 17:00hrs 
  • Friday: 07:00 – 15:45hrs 

So far what has been stored is: iron and steel (metal, ingots, rolls, coils, sheets, messes, loose parts, others) and fractional General cargo. Whichever shipping company or customer must present the Tarja note and the partial bill of departure and a payment of USD 0.39 par metric ton. 

Port Security 

Port security is maintained 24 hours a day. 

Security 

ISPS Compliant 

Yes  

Current ISPS Level  (Level 1 = Normal, Level 2 = Heightened, Level 3 = Exceptional) 

1 

Police Boats 

No info 

Fire Engines 

Yes  

 

 

 

El Salvador - 2.2 Aviation

 

image-20231013164504-1

 

image-20231011154802-1

image-20231011154802-2

 

image-20231011154802-3

 

Key airport information may also be found at: https://www.cepa.gob.sv/  

Key airport information may also be found at: World Airport Database 

Overview 

When the Civil Aeronautics Act was issued in 1955, it also included the creation of the Department of Civil Aviation, which in 1962 became the General Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGCA). DGCA was given the responsibility to develop the modernization project of Ilopango International Airport, which was concluded later in 1965. In December 1979 it was agreed to suspend the international traffic in Ilopango Airport as of January 1980, moving the traffic to Comalapa Airport (managed by CEPA), which became the main airport for El Salvador. Ilopango remained active only for military use and for a small proportion for civil aviation. In October 1987 the Ilopango airport re-opened for international traffic in a limited way, for private aviation operations, air taxis, air ambulances, flights on official duty, civilian and military assistance. In 1994 with the establishment of the Department of Transportation, the DGCA ceased to belong to the Ministry of Economy and became part of this Department under the name of Directorate General of Air Transport (DGTA). In October 2001 the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador adopted the new reforms of the DGTA including the autonomy of the institution to become the Civil Aviation Authority. Beginning in 2005 the institution has been restructured to improve its technical staff and expanding the service coverage. By 22 March 2017, the Civil Aviation approved an Advisory Circular “Airports Emergency Plan” (CA No. 139-365-05), regarding a plan to be followed in case of emergency inside/outside the airports and airplanes. In follow-up to know the achievement of this plan. 

Authority and address 

Contact Names / Email 

Tel / Fax 

Website 

Civil Aviation/Boulevard del Ejército Km. 9 1/2, contiguo Zona Franca San Bartolo. Ilopango 

Name: Ing. Jorge Alberto Puquirre 

Title: Director Ejecutivo 

Email: jpuquirre@aac.gob.sv 

Tel. (503) 2565-4406 

Fax (503) 2565-4408 

www.aac.gob.sv 

www.aac.gob.sv 

Location: 13°26′33. 85’N Latitude   89°03′20″ W Longitude 

 

For more information on government agency and airport company contact information, please see the following links: 4.1 Government Contact List and 4.5 Airport Companies Contact List. 

Procedures for foreign registered aircrafts 

These are the steps to be followed to obtain the landing authorization in Comalapa airport: 

  • Under normal conditions, a written request (to land in the national territory) needs to be submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Relationship (Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de El Salvador) 

  • This Ministry will forward the request to the Ministry of National Defense. It is necessary to include in the request the type of aircraft, date of arrival and departure, objective of the operation, etc. 

  • As required by the Civil Aviation Authority, for each aircraft that lands in El Salvador, the flight plan needs to be communicated to the Airport Authority. 

 

El Salvador - 2.2.1 Monseñor Oscar Arnulfo Romero International Airport

Airport Overview

Airport Location and Details

Country

El Salvador

Province / District

San Luis Talpa / La Paz

Town or City (closest)

San Salvador

Airport's Complete Name

Monseñor Oscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdamez International Airport
Latitude

13.445098
Longitude

-89.057138
Elevation 30.78 meters (101ft)

IATA Code

SAL

ICAO Code

MSLP
Managing Company or Airport Authority CEPA

Main Airport

Authority and address

Contact Names / Email

Tel / Fax

Website

Civil Aviation /Boulevard del Ejército Km. 9 1/2, contiguo Zona Franca San Bartolo. Ilopango

Name: Ing. Jorge Alberto Puquirre

Title: Director Ejecutivo

Email: jpuquirre@aac.gob.sv

Tel. (503) 2565-4400

Fax (503) 2565-4408

www.aac.gob.sv

www.aac.gob.sv

https://www.aeropuertos.net/aeropuerto-internacional-de-el-salvador/

http://www.cepa.gob.sv/tag/aeropuerto-internacional-de-el-salvador

Airport Name and Management

Contact Names / Email

Tel / Fax

Website

El Salvador International Airport-Oscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdamez

Name: Ing. Ricardo Duarte

Title: Gerente

Email: ricardo.duarte@cepa.gob.sv

Tel. (503) 2375-2520

2375-2200

 

www.aeropuertoelsalvador.gob.sv

http://www.aeropuertoelsalvador.gob.sv 

General Overview

El Salvador International Airport (AIES) has a main runway (07-25) of 3,200 meters long, 60 meters wide. Parallel to the main runway there is the taxiway "Alfa", which connects the track through six outings. For use of small aircraft, it was built also a secondary runway (18-36), with a length of 800 meters, which is currently used as parking "LP" for aircraft. The platform of the Passenger Terminal Building (ETP) has seventeen positions for aircraft parking; fourteen of them have their respective boarding bridges, connecting the aircraft directly to their waiting rooms. The three remaining positions are "remote", meaning that passengers who disembark in any of them are transferred to the terminal with airbuses. The ETP has built a total area of 34,380 square meters, which is home to waiting rooms and corridors, areas of Immigration and Customs and diversity of stores. Based on passenger traffic, this is the third busiest airport in Central America. In 2010, fewer than two million passengers passed through AIES.

It is expected that before the end of the first half of 2021 the expansion of the airport will be inaugurated, which will include 5 new waiting rooms for passengers.

It is important to mention that the WFP has an agreement with the 2nd. air brigade of the Salvadoran Air Force, next to the airport, where we have a military ramp for PMA air activities, as a second option for operations.

Performance

Performance

Year(s) and figures

Total aircraft movements

 45,854 Comercial aircrafts (2017)

Info: Anexo XXVI Aeronaves_Comerciales 2017.pdf

Total passengers

2,517,000 Mobilized passengers (Entry, Exit, Transit, On board, 2021)

Info: Anuario estádistico AIES 2021

Current monthly use by Humanitarian flights (UNHAS)

N/A

Cargo capacity

Cargo movement in 2021: 35,076,643 Kg

Info.: Anuario estadístico AIES 2021

Capacity Cargo

Year(s) and figures

Total aircraft movements

33,760 operations (2021)

Total capacity of the airport (kg)

N/A

Current activity of the airport (kg)

2021: Import activity = 16,041,656;

Export activity = 19,034,987

Current monthly use by Humanitarian flights (UNHAS…)

N/A

Airfield details

Airfield details

Customs

Yes

JET A-1 fuel

Yes

Immigration

Yes

AVGAS 100

Yes

Terminal building

Yes

Single point refueling

Yes

Passenger terminal

Yes

Starter units (press air)

Yes

Cargo terminal

Yes

Ground power (mobile)

Yes

Pax transport to airfield

Yes

Crash crew

Yes

Control tower

Yes

Aircraft support services

Yes

Weather facilities

Yes

Latrine servicing

Yes

Catering services

Yes

Fire fighting

Yes

Base Operating room

Yes

 Firefighting equipment Yes

Airport radar

Yes

De-icing equipment

Yes

NDB

Yes

IFR procedures

Yes

VOR

Yes

Runway lights

Yes

ILS

Yes

Parking ramp lighting

Yes

Approach lights

Yes

 

 

Runway

RUNWAY 1

Published length (meters)

3,200 m

Usable length (meters)

3,000 m

Width (meters)

45 m (with 15 m shoulders)

Orientation

07/25

Surface

Asphalt / Concrete

RUNWAY 2

Published length (meters)

800 m

Usable length (meters)

750 m

Width (meters)

23 m

Orientation

18/36

Surface

Asphalt / Concrete

Helicopter pad(s)

HELIPAD:

Present

Yes              No

Largest helicopter that can land

No specification

Width and Length (meters)

No specification

Surface

No specification

 Airport operating details

 Airport operating details

Max size cargo aircraft that can be offloaded with bulk cargo

WFP has deployed an Ilyushin 76 in an Emergency Operation. The armed forces of the United States have operated C5, C17 and C130.

Max size cargo aircraft that can be offloaded on a pallet

N/A

Total parking size (m²)

728 vehicles

Storage capacity (MT)

10,286 m2

Cargo handling equipment

Yes

N/A

Elevators

Yes

N/A

Can reach the upper deck of a B.747?:  Yes

Loading ramps

Yes

Costs – Airfield charges

Most airport tariffs and fees can be found on the following link that was updated in 2014.

Info: Anexo XXIX Tarifas Vigentes AIES.pdf

LANDING FEE CHARGES (USD/MT of gross aircraft weight)

Aircraft Weight – MTOW (kg)

Landing($/MT)**

Navigation

Parking*

Night Landing

Over-Flight

5,670 - 22,000

US $4.00

US $0.13

US $0.43

N/A

N/A

22,001 - 55,000

US $4.00

US $0.28

US $0.43

N/A

N/A

55,001 - 77,000

US $4.00

US $0.36

US $0.43

N/A

N/A

77,001-

US $4.00

US $0.55

US $0.43

N/A

N/A

* Charged for every 4 hours or fraction. In the passengers’ terminals the first 2 hours are free from all charges.

**Minimum cost for landing service for aircraft ≤ 2mt are: a) local flights US$ 8.50, and b) international flights US$ 11.60

Costs – Aircraft handling charges

AIRCRAFT HANDLING CHARGES

Aircraft weight – MTOW (kg)

Ad-Hoc / USD

< 5,000

Prices are based on services required

  5,001 - 10,000

Prices are based on services required

10,001 - 20,000

Prices are based on services required

20,001 - 30,000

Prices are based on services required

30,001 - 40,000

Prices are based on services required

40,001 - 50,000

Prices are based on services required

BAE 146 / A319

Prices are based on services required

B727 / MD80

Prices are based on services required

B757 / A320

Prices are based on services required

Hercules C130 / IL76

Prices are based on services required

B707 / DC8 / IL62

Prices are based on services required

B767 / A310 / IL86

Prices are based on services required

A330 / MD11 / DC10

Prices are based on services required

B747 / B777 / AN124

Prices are based on services required

Costs - Aircraft servicing charges

AIRCRAFT SERVICING CHARGES

Service

Ad-Hoc / USD

Pallet Handling Charge per aircraft

N/A

Cargo per kg

US $0.08

Chocks per operation

US $20

Stairs per unit per hour

US $100

GPU per hour

US $100

ASU per hour

US $100

Loader per hour

US $250-US $500

Toilet Service per aircraft

US $40

Pushback per operation

US $90

Trailer per operation

N/A

Traffic Handling per operation

US $500

Check-in per aircraft

US $500

Documents per aircraft

N/A

Costs – Cargo terminal charges

COST CARGO TERMINAL CHARGES

Import

Rate USD / kg

Handling charge per kg

US $4.57

Break bulk fee

US $0.08

Diplomatic mail

US $0.05

Strong room – per Kg

US $0.52 The first 8 working days

Cold storage fee – Per Kg

US $0.13 The first 8 working days

Delivery outside normal working hours

N/A

Preparation of substitute AOA – Invoice – Receipt

N/A

Storage per kg per day – Grace period 8 days

1)    General Warehouse:

The first seven working days at US $0.14/kg/day; More than 7 working days at US $0.17/kg/day;

2)    Chilled, Frozen & Strong warehouses:

The first seven working days at US $0.18/kg/day; More than 7 working days at US $0.36/kg/day

Export

Rate USD / kg

Handling charges – un-palletized cargo

US $0.05

International Air Way Bill

N/A

Local Air Way Bill

N/A

Air Way Bill Amendment – Cancellation

N/A

Air Way Bill Documentation

N/A

Diplomatic Mail

US $0.05

Storage charges per kg per day

N/A

Air-Bridge Charges

Not applicable.

Fuel services charges

For every gallon of fuel supplied to aircrafts a fee concession of US$0.048 is charged. The two airport fuel suppliers are PUMA (252,000gl/day) and UNO (90,000gl/day).

Security

El Salvador International Airport (AIES), located in Comalapa, was built in the late 1970s. It is well guarded by CEPA, a private transportation authority, and the National Police. The airport uses the same grounds as the principal military airbase, only 2 km from the passenger terminal. Customs has a very strong presence at both the passenger and cargo terminals, and uses trained dogs to detect for explosives and narcotics. Inside the terminal, the Airport Authority Police and National Police Force have installed metal detectors to further guarantee security there.  The police have also implemented better protocols in order to prevent drug trafficking. The Airport Authority Police and National Police Force are present outside the terminals, too. The airport has a guarded parking area. Security problems are quite common on the road from the airport to the capital, a distance of 43 kilometers, were criminals are very active.

 

Security

 Good

 Marginal

 Bad

Storage facilities

The Cargo Terminal Building (ETC) can accommodate various types of freighter aircraft as there are three positions parking. There is also a platform for the simultaneous maintenance of five different aircrafts. The platform is located opposite the hangars AEROMANTENIMIENTO (Aeroman), also a modern repair shop that has achieved high levels of service in Latin America that represents an added value for the AIES. The ETC also operates its own warehouse which accommodates various offices and has a total area of 10,286 square meters. Ground handling companies

Aircraft Handling

Cargo handling

Passenger Handling

Aerodespachos de El Salvador

Aerodespachos de El Salvador

Aerodespachos de El Salvador

Air Support

Air Support

Air Support

 

For more information, please see the following link: El Salvador Airport Companies Contact List. 

Information on some aviation service providers can be found at: http://www.azfreight.com/  

https://privejets.com/aviones-privados/el-salvador

http://www.caaa-tase.com.sv/transporte.html

 

 

El Salvador - 2.2.2 Ilopango International Airport

Overview

Ilopango Airport was once the International airport until Monseñor Arnulfo Romero, in Comalapa, was made operational. Ilopango handles both military and civilian flights (private airplanes). Following the Earthquakes in 2001, Ilopango became the principal while damage assessments were carried out on the runways at the International airport in Comalapa.   A new passenger’s terminal was inaugurated in 2016.  The waiting room has a capacity for 60 maximum passengers. The new terminal also has capacity to attend 1,100 passengers a month. Flights are available by a Guatemalan company to Guatemala, Honduras, and Belize (via Guatemala).

 

LOCATION DETAILS

Country

El Salvador

Latitude

13.699794

Province / District

San Salvador

Longitude

-89.120066

Town or City (closest)

San Salvador

Elevation (m)

612 meters

Airfield Name

Ilopango Airport

Surface

Asphalt

IATA & ICAO codes

MSSS

Condition

Good

Runway Length (m)

2,239

Runway Width (m)

45 m

Orientation

33/15

Lighting

Yes     

 

El Salvador - 2.2.3 Los Comandos National Airfield

Airport Details

Country

El Salvador

Latitude

13.72616

Province / District

 Morazán

Longitude

 -88.10674

Airport Name

 Los Comandos

Elevation (ft)

 919 ft

IATA & ICAO codes

 FR2294

Surface

 Asphalt

Town or City (closest)

 San Francisco Gotera

Runway Condition

 Regular

Runway Dimension

1,000 m x 15 m

Runway Lighting (Yes / No)

 No

 

 

El Salvador - 2.2.4 Tamarindo National Airfield

Airport Details

Country

El Salvador

Latitude

13.16261

Province / District

 La Unión

Longitude

 -87.90477

Airport Name

 Tamarindo

Elevation (ft)

 10 ft

IATA & ICAO codes

 FR2292

Surface

 Asphalt

Town or City (closest)

 La Unión

Runway Condition

 Good

Runway Dimension

1,341 m x 23 m

Runway Lighting (Yes / No)

 No

 

 

El Salvador - 2.2.5 Other National Airfields

Location of Aerodromes and Heliports

List of aerodromes and heliports; certified and with updated operational permit (July 2021)

Others

In April 2013 Deutsche Post DHL in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under the “Get Airports Ready for Disasters (GARD) Programme “carried out a training at the two airports of El Salvador (Comalapa and Ilopango) in order to assess the capacity of the two airports in case of emergencies, so Salvadorian authorities be able to optimize their capacity of relieving goods and to allow smoother processes at the airports.  

Participants of this training were from entities who take part during emergencies in the country such as Aviation Authority, Comision Ejecutiva Portuaria Autonoma (CEPA), Civil Protection, Red Cross, the World Food Programme, US Navy, El Salvador Armed Forces, US NAVY, El Salvador Armed Forces, and UNDP.  

The following findings and recommendations were discussed at the training and a final document will be sent by DHL to the participants, so measures are taken.

Ilopango Airport

Findings:

  • Ilopango airport is located on a landslide high risk land, which minimizes its probability of extension.
  • There is not enough loading/offloading equipment.
  • Sanitation service is limited.
  • In case of emergency, there is no generator for general lighting.
  • Building is small for migration, customs, security, warehousing and for accommodation in case of emergency.
  • The capacity to supply fuel for wide-body aircrafts is limited.
  • Limited lighting for runways.
  • Armed forces are available for first response duties.
  • There is capacity to receive military wide-body aircrafts.
  • The armed forces have a Rescue Humanitarian Unit.

 

Recommendations:

  • For emergency operations, the airport is good for light-cargo aircrafts and helicopters.
  • When planning, it is good to consider Ilopango as an alternate airport.
  • Consideration to obtain an emergency generator
  • Provide emergency lighting system for the runaway
  • Modernize and reinforce sanitation services.

 

 Monseñor Oscar Arnulfo Romero - International Airport

Findings:

  • In case of emergency there is not a contingency plan specifically for the cargo terminal, as well as for Customs, Civil National Police, Armed Forces, and land support companies.
  • Lack of additional equipment for loading/offloading humanitarian cargo from aircrafts.
  • Not enough space for passenger terminal (Migration and Customs).
  • Lack of vehicles for transporting passengers from remote places.
  • Lack of enough equipment to mobilize cargo.
  • Lack of enough human resources for cargo management.
  • Lack of enough office material and equipment to process information for dispatching humanitarian aids.

 

Recommendations:

  • Prepare a contingency plan for cargo terminal.
  • Celebrate agreements with land support companies at AIES in order to attend aircrafts at the moment of emergencies.
  • Extend passenger terminal.
  • Acquisition of airbuses.
  • Extend space to habilitate passenger service points.
  • Provide equipment for emergency management.
  • Continuous training for the existing team.
  • Communication and revision of disaster humanitarian assistance manual.

No other inputs have been shared up to date (2021) regarding this.

El Salvador - 2.3 Road Network

 

image-20231013164912-1

Roads Overview

Intercity Road Network

A network of paved and non paved roads connect the country. The rather good conditions of roads allows for the quick and easy transfer of goods and services from the municipalities to departmental capitals, ports, airports, borders, and regional roads that cross over the country. The execution of studies and projects are carried out through companies contracted by the MOP.  

The Ministry of Public Works (MOP) is responsible for the planning, improvements and construction of the country’s road network. Maintenance of primary roads are carried out by private companies and paid with from the Road Maintenance Fund (FOVIAL). 

Urban Road Network

This network consists of Urban Road Corridors that have high traffic. Urban roads enable connectivity within cities and with the intercity road network in such a way that facilitates economic, trade, educational, industrial and social activities in cities. This network is maintained by FOVIAL and MOP. The execution of studies and projects are carried out through companies contracted by the MOP.
 

El Salvador Road Maps are available in the following Annexes:

Annex VII El Salvador Roads Map (Source FOVIAL)

Annex XX Road Map 2013 FOVIAL 

Annex XXI Road Map detailed

Annex XXII Road Map general information

For more information, please see the following link: 4.1 El Salvador Government Contact List

Road Construction/Maintenance

FOVIAL is responsible for maintenance of the national road network as such, a series of preventive and corrective maintenance activities are carried out every year to avoid sudden deterioration of roads caused by vehicle use and the natural elements like rain.

FOVIAL's main activities include:
• Surface Treatment:

  • Stamps
  • Irrigation of grout asphalt, micro surfacing 
  • Other types of treatments 

• Renewal of the surface:

  • Recycling 
  • Asphalt binder re-installation

• Stabilization bases
• Renewal shoulders
• Construction of drainage longitudinal
• Construction of cross drainage
• Placement signaling horizontal
• Placement signaling Vertical
• Placing Flex Beam
• Clean drainage longitudinal
• Clean drainage transverse

 

 

Distance Matrix

Road Security

Road security in El Salvador is classified as Marginal. 


Weighbridges and Axle Load Limits

There is a weighbridge at Km 2 from Acajutla to San Salvador to control the trucks coming from the Port. 

For more information, please see the following link: Annex XXIII Tabla de pesos y medidas

Road Class and Surface Conditions

Classification

Road Description

Class: Paved principal roads

Intercity roads which support permanent transit and allow access to main urban areas. 

Class: Improved roads

Municipal connections with the network of paved roads. The roads that ensure municipal interconnection. The roads that connect agriculture centers, livestock and cooperatives. 

Class: Summer transit

Are established by law, such as temporary roads, that due to the surface conditions are impassable during the rainy season. 

Class: Urban roads

Urban roads in the main city centers; generally well paved and maintained at an average standard. 

Class: Foot Print roads

These are roads that can be accessed only on foot or using animal traction.

 

Road Inventory

Classification

Administering Agency

Network Length

Paved principal road

MOP-Fovial

   3,247  km

Unpaved road

MOP-Fovial

   3,671  km

Improved roads

MOP-Fovial

   7,983  km

Summer transit

MOP-Fovial

10,431 km

Foot print roads

MOP-Fovial

   9,687  km

Urban roads

MOP-Fovial

   2,094  km

 

Bridges

El Salvador has not erected several complex bridge structures. Outside the capital there are bridges that pass over rivers and have some important vehicle flow. There are two major bridges in the country:

  • San Marcos Lempa Bridge (found on Highway CA-2) with a length of 700 meters and draft of 17.7 meters. Its construction costs amounted to US $25 million dollars and built in three years. 
  • The Pan American Highway Bridge (found on Highway CA-1) which spans 400 meters in length. 
     

A list of Bridges in areas with high floods risk can be found in Annex II Bridges in areas with high floods risk.

 

 

International corridors leading to the Country

The foundation to develop and intertwine logistics and transport has come about with the construction of the Union Port. The notion of networking a road system around the Port would facilitate the transport of international cargo from the port to various cities in El Salvador.

As part of the Plan Puebla-Panama accords, six international corridors have been incorporated and enabled, from which three of them are in El Salvador:

  • Port Union–Port Cortés
  • La Libertad-Poy-San Pedro Sula (“Canal Seco”)
  • Acajutla-Anguiatu-Rio Hondo-Guatemala International Inter-oceanic

 

Main corridors within the Country (leading to main towns / hubs)

El Salvador is a transit point for passengers and freight transport travelling from North to South America or vice versa. The Pan-American Highway passes through El Salvador and connects the capital, San Salvador, with land borders with Guatemala and Honduras. Two other major roads are the Coastal Highway, built in the 50's, which runs parallel to the coast of the Pacific Ocean and the North Trunk Road, which connects the capital with the department of Chalatenango.

El Salvador - 2.4 Railway Assessment

image-20231013164810-1

Railway Companies and Consortia

The private railway that exists in country had been out of service since 2002. The rail was revived in 2007 for the use of public transportation. The railway has brought a significant savings in transportation fees for low income families, who travelled between the municipalities of San Salvador, Ciudad Delgado and Apopa. A passenger train ticket with the El Salvador National Railways (FENADESAL) costs only US$ 0.10 cents. Not only passengers have benefited from the reopening of rail service, but also many people who are engaged in informal trade, selling edible products inside the carriages every day, while the train runs through the districts mentioned above. The Government is determining the feasibility to expand the service to the borders in order to support the supply chain of trade in the region, through the interconnection of the railway network with Honduras and Guatemala, and to ensure and promote the national vision to turn El Salvador into a center for value-added regional distribution. The total track distance is 283 Km. 

Connections:

  • Union Port – Apopa town
  • Apopa town – Port of Acajutla
  • Apopa town - Guatemalan border
  • Town of San Jerónimo (El Salvador border) – Zacapa town – Port Barrios  

For more information, please see the following links: 

4.1 El Salvador Government Contact List

4.10 El Salvador Railway Company Contact List

Stations/Dry Ports

There are no dry ports in El Salvador, but Honduras has begun construction in 2008 of its stage of the "Dry Canal", the Central American inter-ocean highway. The project is backed by the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE).  The 100-kilometer route is to link Goascorán, on the border with El Salvador, with Villa de San Antonio in central Honduras. The Dry Canal aims to link the Pacific ports of La Unión (El Salvador), Henecán (Honduras) and Corinto (Nicaragua) with the Caribbean ports of Puerto Cortés (Honduras) and Puerto Barrios (Guatemala).

 

El Salvador - 2.5 Waterways Assessment

 

image-20231013165013-1

Waterways Overview

Commercial navigation along the rivers of El Salvador is almost nonexistent. The country's largest river, Rio Lempa, connects a network of over 150 smaller streams that are used for local transportation and commerce. The river is navigable only through short disconnected segments, by small shallow draft vessels.

The country has four large river basins and seven smaller river basins that drain the Pacific Coastal Cordillera. The four large river basins are:

  • Rio Lempa basin
  • Rio Goascoran basin
  • Rio Grande de San Miguel basin
  • Rio Paz basin

The Rio Lempa is the largest and most important river in El Salvador with its basin covering an area of 18,246 square kilometers (km2). Of this area, 10,255 km2 are in El Salvador, 5,696 km2 are in Honduras, and 2,295 km2 are in Guatemala. The Rio Lempa is also the largest river system in Central America with its water used mainly for hydroelectric power. As mentioned previously, there are three significant manmade reservoirs on the Rio Lempa which store enormous quantities of water for hydroelectric power generation. They are the Embalse Cerron Grande (135 km2 surface area), Embalse Presa Cinco de Noviembre (20 km2 surface area), and Embalse Quince de Septiembre, also called Embalse del San Lorenzo (35 km2 surface area). In addition, the Embalse del Guajoyo is a small reservoir on the Rio Desague in northwestern El Salvador that is also used for hydropower. Discharges from the reservoirs control the flow of the Rio Lempa. The average flow of the Rio Lempa is about 153 cubic meters per second (m3/s) from the Embalse Cerron Grande reservoir, about 197 m3/s from the Embalse Presa Cinco de Noviembre reservoir, about 329 m3/s at the Rio Torola confluence, and about 362 m3/s at the Cuscatlan Bridge on the Pan American Highway. The Rio Lempa receives domestic and industrial wastes from population located along its western margin and a high concentration of sediments from deforested zones along the eastern margin.

The seven smaller basins are:

  • The coastal area between the Rio Cara Sucia and Rio Copinula;
  • The coastal area between the Rio Sensunapan and Rio Banderas; 
  • The coastal area between the Rio Pululuya and Rio Comalapa; 
  • The Rio Jiboa basin; 
  • The coastal area between the Rio Jalponga and Rio El Guayabo; 
  • The coastal area between the Rio El Potrero and Rio El Molino; and 
  • The coastal area between the Rio Grande de San Miguel and Rio Sirama. 

All rivers in El Salvador eventually discharge into the Pacific Ocean.

El Salvador has four main lakes:

  • Lake Coatepeque, the largest, is a volcanic lake located 18 km south of the city of Santa Ana. It covers an area of 24 km2 and has a depth of 115 meters. Lake Coatepeque is also located at an altitude of 745 meters.
  • Güija Lake, shared between El Salvador and Guatemala, is located in the northwest border of El Salvador and east of Guatemala. It is located at an altitude of 430 meters above sea level and covers an area approximately 45 km2.
  • Lake Ilopango, of volcanic origins, measures 72 km2 and constitutes one of the largest water reserves and a beauty of El Salvador. Located 16 km from San Salvador and 440 meters above sea level, it reaches depths of 230 meters.
  • Lake Olomega has the largest reserve of fresh water. Its length is 24.2 km2 and is located 15 kilometers southeast of San Miguel. It is fed and drained by the Rio Grande of San Miguel and its current state is eutrophication. Its jurisdiction is shared by the municipalities of Chirilagua (San Miguel) and El Carmen (La Union).
     

For more information, please see the following link: 4.1 El Salvador Government Contact List

Port Information

There are no important river/lake ports in country.

El Salvador - 2.6 Storage Assessment

 

Storage Overview

Public and private storage & warehouse facilities in El Salvador are quite acceptable with a range of options available nationwide. WFP used 3 warehouses from 2005 until 2014; which were owned and run by WFP’s Government Counterpart, the Food Assistance Directorate of the Secretariat for Social Inclusion (SIS/DAA). Currently WFP’s making use of one warehouse known as BFA Sitio del Niño. Warehouse staff is skilled with extensive knowledge on warehouse management, commodity handling, conservation techniques as well as WFP operating procedures.  Insecticides for fumigation, (phosphine) gases are stored on site and can be purchased locally without difficulty. The staff has been trained on the use of fumigants and insecticides, safety measures etc.  All warehouses used for the storage of WFP commodities are fixed structures, and not pre-fabricated (i.e. Wiikhall are currently used for WFP operations).

Therefore, WFP directly manages this BFA-Sitio del Niño warehouse, which is also on Government property (Banco de Fomento Agropecuario) and its management is shared between WFP and SIS/DAA.  

For more information, please see the following link: 4.6 El Salvador Storage and Milling Company Contact List

Commercial Storage

The private storage & warehouse conditions in El Salvador are quite acceptable with a range of options available nationwide. The companies offer a variety of services such as warehouses with ample storage capacity, and logistics services, i.e., freight forwarding and distribution of goods. Cost of commercial warehousing ranges between 6 and 13 USD/MT/month (accessories services, like handling and fumigation are excluded).

Location

Owner

Available for Rent

Capacity
mt / m² / m³

Type [1]

Access [2]

Condition [3]
Styba Storage and Services 
Blv.Pynsa Calle L-2 Zona Industrial Merliot Ant.Cuscatlán La libertad 		 Styba Storage and Services S.A. de C.V. Yes Five industrial buildings with  17,000 m³ Storage and Logistics services Flat Good
Carretera a Santa Ana Km27 ½ Crío La Arenera, El Salvador  Almacena S.A. de C.V. Yes 14,300 m³ Storage and logistics services Flat Good
Nueva carretera Panamericana CA-1 Cantón joya Galana apopa-El Salvador  Ransa El Salvador  Yes 17,000 m³ Storage and Logistics Services Flat Good

K11 Road to La Libertad Port, La Libertad, El Salvador
Bodesa Prologix
 Yes   Warehousing, logistics, custom services Raised Siding Good
Edif. 15 Norte. EXPORT SALVA FREE ZONE.
Km. 24 carretera a Santa Ana, Municipio de Colon, La Libertad		 Blue Logistics Yes   Warehousing, logistics, custom services    
             

[1] Warehouse Type: Open storage, container, rub-hall, silo, concrete, other, unspecified

[2] Warehouse Access: Raised-siding, flat

[3] Warehouse condition: Appears intact, appears damaged, under construction/repair

Storage Used by Humanitarian Organizations

Location Organization

Sharing Possibility

Capacity
mt / m² / m³

 Type [1] Access [2] Condition [3]
Zapotitán warehouse is located Carretera hacia Santa Ana Kilómetro 32 ½ División de Asistencia Alimentaria (DAA)             
Secretaría de Inclusión Social   (SIS),  Zapotitán		 Yes 10,000 m2 Concrete Raised siding Good

Santa Ana warehouse is 75 km to the west of the capital and
35 km from the Guatemalan border Final Calle Libertad

Colonia Santa Lucia, Santa Ana		 División de Asistencia Alimentaria (DAA)             
Secretaría de Inclusión Social (SIS), Zapotitán		 Yes 10,000 m2 Concrete Flat Good

San Miguel warehouse is 120 km to the east of the capital and 65 km from the Honduran border of El Amatillo:
Km 142 ½ de Carretera a La Unión, frente a Colonia Carrillo
Antiguo local del Banco de Fomento Agropecuario

San Miguel,  Departamento de San Miguel, El Salvador		 División de Asistencia Alimentaria (DAA),                  
Secretaría de Inclusión Social (SIS), San Miguel Warehouse		 Yes 6,500 m2 Concrete Flat Good
Bodegas BFA Sitio del Niño, Km. 29 carretera hacia Santa Ana,
Desvío a San Juan Opico, Departamento de la Libertad		 PMA/División de Asistencia Alimentaria (DAA)
Secretaría de Inclusión Social (SIS)		 Yes 4,000 m2 Concrete Flat Good
Segunda Brigada Aerea, Municipio de San Luis Talpa, Depto. de La Paz PMA Yes 320 m2 WiikHall Flat Good
Bodegas ASIC Cabañas, San Isidro, Km 70 carretera a Sensun tepeque, Col. Chavez Asociación Amigos de San Isidro Cuscatlan (ASIC) Yes 665 m2 Concrete Flat Good

[1] Warehouse Type: Open storage, container, rub-hall, silo, concrete, other, unspecified

[2] Warehouse Access: Raised-siding, flat

[3] Warehouse condition: Appears intact, appears damaged, under construction/repair

Public Sector Storage

Location Ministry / Agency

Use Possibility

Capacity
mt / m² / m³

 Type [1] Access [2] Condition [3]

El Salvador International Airport is located in the South Central area of the country in the department of La Paz, limiting the South to the Pacific Ocean, to the east with the Jiboa River, and with the North West Coastal Highway 

 CEPA Yes 10,000 m2 Concrete Flat Good

Port of Acajutla, The Port of Acajutla is located in the department of Sonsonate
in the west of the country, 85 kilometers from the capital, San Salvador

 CEPA Yes 4 W/Hs with storage capacity of 22,600 m2, and two roofing modules with a storage capacity of 6,122 m2.
One container yard of 30,000 m2, W/H of bulk solids for export (12k MT) and one W/H of bulk solid for import (18k MT)		 Concrete Flat Good
Bodegas BFA Sonsonate, Acajutla, Km 81 carretera a Acajutla Banco de Fomento Agropecuario (BFA) Yes

5,000 m2

Concrete

Flat

Good
Bodegas BFA Cuscatlan, El Rosario, San Rafael Cedro
Km 45.5 carretera a Ilobasco, Cton. Cerro Colorado		 Banco de Fomento Agropecuario (BFA) Yes

5,700 m2

Concrete

Flat

Good
Bodegas BFA SIRAMA, La Union
km 177.5 Carretera a la frontera El Amatillo		 Banco de Fomento Agropecuario (BFA) Yes

2,640 m2

Concrete

Flat

Good
Bodega ex-IRA en San Vicente
Km 55.5 carretera a S. Vicente, Cton. Las Minas		 Ministerio de Hacienda Yes

200 m2

Metal

Flat

Needs services connections
Bodega ISTA Usulutan, Av. Gerson Calito, Centro de Gobierno ISTA Yes 270 m2

Concrete

Flat

Good

[1] Warehouse Type: Open storage, container, rub-hall, silo, concrete, other, unspecified

[2] Warehouse Access: Raised-siding, flat

[3] Warehouse condition: Appears intact, appears damaged, under construction/repair

Cold Chain

Location

Organisation / Owner

Type [1]

Cooling /  Power [2]

Quantity

Total Capacity
m³

Condition

Km 27.5 Carretera a Santa Ana, San Juan Opico La libertad

ALMACENA SA DE C.V.

Concrete

Frozen

1

14,300 (Frozen Warehouses)

Good

Km 27.5 Carr. a S. Ana, S. Juan Opico, LLtad

ALMACENA S.A. DE C.V.

Concrete

Chilled

1

150 m2(chilled warehouses)

Good

Blvd. Pynsa, Calle L-2, Zona Industrial Merliot, Antiguo Cuscatlan, San Salvador

STYBA

Concrete

Frozen

1

3,000 m2

Good

Blvd. Pynsa, Calle L-2, Zona Industrial Merliot, Antiguo Cuscatlan, San Salvador

STYBA

Concrete

Chilled

1

3,000 m2

Good

Nueva carretera Panamericana CA-1 Cantón joya Galana apopa-El Salvador

RANSA

Concrete

Chilled

1

5,400 m2

Good

[1] Cold Room Positive, Cold Room Negative, Refrigerator, Freezer,

[2] Compression, Absorption, Solar, Other, unspecified

 

El Salvador - 2.7 Milling Assessment

Milling overview

Currently,  there are two large mills in El Salvador. HARISA from Grupo Molinos Modernos and MOLSA, Molinos de El Salvador. In recent years, these wheat mills have diversified their products.

MOLSA SA DE CV

MOLSA is a wheat flourmill located in the capital, San Salvador,. It is considered the largest producer of wheat flour for bread industry and associated products are biscuits. Was founded in April 1959.

www.molsa.com.sv/

HARISA SA DE CV

Was founded in April 1963. Another large mill located in the LA LAGUNA industrial zone, in the metropolitan area of San Salvador. A very diversified mill in flour for bakery, flour for pasta, corn flour and cookies. Its market ranges from Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.

www.cmimolinosmodernos.com

Other distributors and processing companies

Distributor

Products

Arrocera OMOA
http://www.arroceraomoa.com/

32 Avenida Norte No. 405, Barrio Lourdes

San Salvador, El Salvador C.A

Teléfonos: (503) 2221-6047 y (503) 2440-0548

Fax: (503) 2221-2251 y (503) 2221-2250

Email. info@arroceraomoa.com

Produce rice, beans and rice flower

Arrocera San Francisco
http://www.arrocerasanfrancisco.com/

Kilometro 9 1/2, Carretera a Comalapa, San Marcos

 El Salvador, Centro América

Tel. +503 2213 1115

 Atención Al Cliente: (503) 2213-1140

info@arrocerasanfrancisco.com

Rice and cereals producers. Also distribute other products and brands: Kimberly Clark, Red Bull, Cerveza Hollandia, Snacks PRO, Liquid food Silk, Pozuelo, 3M, Underwood, among other brands.

 

DIANA
Productos Alimenticios Diana
http://www.diana.com.sv/

12 Ave. Sur, #111, Colonia Guadalupe, Soyapango,

Apartado Postal 177,

San Salvador, El Salvador

Tel. +503 2277 1233,

Email: servicioalcliente@diana.com.sv

Produce bicuits and snacks.

Nestlé Centroamérica
Nestlé de Centroamérica
http://www.nestle-centroamerica.com/

Edif Ctro Corporativo Madre Selva Av El Espino y Calzada El Almendro

Santa Tecla - La Libertad

Tel. 503 2288 8400

Produces children’s cereals, drinks and milk.

COMALI FOODS

http://www.comalifoods.com/es/index.html

Calle L-3 Boulevard Si-Ham, pol. A-19, Zona Industrial Merliot, Antiguo Cuscatlan, La Libertad, El Salvador.

Te. + 503 2278-8250/51

Email: yeseniasantos@comalifoods.com

Produce food ready to eat (tamales, rice and beans, fried beans, pasta, etc.)

 Alimentos S.A (Central de Alimentos S.A.)

24 ave. 19-67, zona 12, entrada por "El Cortijo I", Guatemala C.A. Teléfono: +502 2422 7000 / +502 2422 7070 escribeme@icasa.com.gt

Email: alanayapan@icasa.com.gt

fortified drinks, oats, Cereals, Salty snacks, Corn chips, Soy protein, Corn flour and semolina, Corn Grits, Pre-cooked Corn Flours

 

Other suppliers

PAMEM, S.A. de C.V. (arroz, frijol) (Arrocera Jerusalén, S.A. de C.V.)

Phone: 2278-4279, 7862-7053          

pedromenjivar@hotmail.es    

Pedro Antonio Menjívar Rivera

 

La Fabril de Aceites, S.A. de C.V.

Phone: 2476-0776, 7682-6429, 7841-6130 7844-8952

mdjm@lafabril.com.sv ; ocruz@lafabril.com.sv ; vilmaumana@lafabril.com.sv

Manuel Montes, Vilma Umaña

 

Summa Industrial, S.A. de C.V. (aceites)

Phone: 2476-0776, 7682-6430, 7870-3206 7850-1758        

ralas@summa.com.sv ; ventasumma@summa.com.sv; roxanaarrue.alas@hotmail.com

Roxana de Alas