Export Time Release Study (SAT, 2nd edition): from 2 days 5 h at Santo Tomás de Castilla to 5 days 19 h at Puerto Quetzal's container terminal

Dossier: Infrastructure and logistics06-logistica.md
Domain: logistica/aduanaslogistica/aduanas
Room: Trade/comercio
Audited: Audited

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).

The research is written in English; quoted figures, source names and the titles of legal instruments stay in the language their source published them in.

Figures

Santo Tomás de Castilla (EPN) · pre-port to sailing, averageSAT, ETD exportación, p. 11: 2 days 5 h 02 minTRS 2nd edition (published 2026)
Empresa Portuaria Quetzal · pre-port to sailing, averageSAT, ETD exportación, p. 11: 3 days 20 h 49 minTRS 2nd edition
Terminal Ferroviaria Puerto Barrios · pre-port to sailing, averageSAT, ETD exportación, p. 11: 4 days 21 h 43 minTRS 2nd edition
Specialised Container Terminal (Puerto Quetzal) · pre-port to sailing, averageSAT, ETD exportación, p. 11: 5 days 18 h 40 minTRS 2nd edition

Caveat

Study averages (sample and measurement window described in the report itself); the time spans private actors and shipping lines, not customs alone. The first edition (imports, 2019/2020) is file 42801 in the same category.

Sources

SAT, Intendencia de Aduanas — Estudio de Tiempos de Despacho, segunda edición: proceso de exportación en aduanas con modalidad de despacho marítimo (PDF, 48 páginas, wp-file-download 91564; captura runner 2026-09-02, sha256 f0ec43acdd6f…), p. 11 'Resultados de tiempos promedio por aduana objeto de estudio'portal.sat.gob.gtconsulted Sep 2, 2026

Organizations named in the answer

Puerto QuetzalThe southern corridor's sea outlet: the Pacific coast handles 60% of the country's port traffic; around 60 km from the capital by the Palín-Escuintla motorway and 4 km from Zona Libre QuetzalPort

Directory of organizations

Related records

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