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How long does a maritime export take on average from the truck's arrival at the pre-port area to the vessel's departure, by port, according to SAT's Time Release Study?

According to the cited documentsLogistics

Santo Tomás de Castilla (EPN) · pre-port to sailing, average

2 days 5 h 02 min

TRS 2nd edition (published 2026)SAT

The second edition of SAT's Time Release Study (WCO methodology, version 3-2018) measured the export process at the maritime-clearance customs offices, from the arrival of the means of transport at the pre-port area to the vessel's departure. Consolidated average times by facility (p. 11): Empresa Portuaria Nacional Santo Tomás de Castilla, 2 days 5 hours 02 minutes; Empresa Portuaria Quetzal, 3 days 20 hours 49 minutes; Terminal Ferroviaria Puerto Barrios, 4 days 21 hours 43 minutes; the Specialised Container Terminal (inside Empresa Portuaria Quetzal's temporary customs deposit), 5 days 18 hours 40 minutes. The study attributes Puerto Quetzal's pattern to the absence of a 'cut off' limiting how long a container may sit in port before sailing. By actor, SAT accounts for 26 % to 34 % of the process activities depending on the facility (p. 12).

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  • Empresa Portuaria Quetzal · pre-port to sailing, average3 days 20 h 49 minTRS 2nd editionSAT
  • Terminal Ferroviaria Puerto Barrios · pre-port to sailing, average4 days 21 h 43 minTRS 2nd editionSAT
  • Specialised Container Terminal (Puerto Quetzal) · pre-port to sailing, average5 days 18 h 40 minTRS 2nd editionSAT

Sources

  • SAT

    Intendencia de Aduanas · Estudio de Tiempos de Despacho, segunda edición: proceso de exportación en aduanas con modalidad de despacho marítimo 'Resultados de tiempos promedio por aduana objeto de estudio'

    • Santo Tomás de Castilla (EPN) · pre-port to sailing, average
    • Empresa Portuaria Quetzal · pre-port to sailing, average
    • Terminal Ferroviaria Puerto Barrios · pre-port to sailing, average
    • 1 more figure
    portal.sat.gob.gtAccessed Sep 2, 2026Go to the source