El Salvador is taking a significant step forward in modernizing its maritime trade infrastructure, driven by major operational upgrades at the country’s primary seaport. Through initiatives led by Unión Portuaria del Pacífico (UPDP), the Port of Acajutla has drastically optimized vessel turnaround, transforming the national trade landscape and strengthening its connection to foreign markets.
The most notable progress comes in maritime efficiency, where container ship waiting times have plummeted from roughly 12 days in 2025 to just 24 hours in 2026. Highlighting this achievement during a briefing with the Inter-trade Union Commission for Trade Facilitation in El Salvador (Cifacil), local authorities emphasized how reduced port congestion is directly accelerating both import handling and export dispatches.
This operational breakthrough forms part of El Salvador’s phased National Logistics Strategy, which encompasses physical expansions alongside cutting-edge technology. Key software deployments implemented in January 2026 include the Navis N4 port operating system and SAP ERP, complemented by ongoing dock construction, dredging projects, and new container yards equipped with modern cargo-handling machinery.
To further streamline international commerce, government agencies—including Customs, Health, Agriculture, and Immigration—are collaborating to establish a unified Maritime Single Window for simplified documentation. Cifacil underscored that these coordinated infrastructure investments and administrative reforms are essential, stating that “the implementation of the National Logistics Strategy develops in phases and includes constant investments in physical infrastructure… IT systems, electrical and water networks, dredging, equipment acquisition, and administrative workspace adaptations.”