• 3 min de lectura
• 3 min de lectura
The Port of Barranquilla Sociedad Portuaria added a new element to its foreign trade operation: authorization as an Authorized Economic Operator (AEO), in the Security and Facilitation category for the Port Facility user type.
The authorization, granted by the National Directorate of Taxes and Customs of Colombia (DIAN), makes the Port of Barranquilla the first in the city to achieve this accreditation and represents an advance in terms of security, trade facilitation, and reliability within the international supply chain.
The authorization was formalized through Resolution No. 13212 of September 8, 2026, after a process of review and adaptation of internal procedures.
"Its obtention was the result of a process of review and adaptation of internal procedures, accompanied by the technical validation of the DIAN, the National Police, the General Maritime Directorate, and the Superintendence of Transportation, entities that participated according to their respective competencies," it was indicated in a statement.
For importers, exporters, shipping lines, and logistics operators, having processes evaluated under security and control standards can facilitate the coordination of operations and provide greater predictability to cargo movements.
The Port of Barranquilla Sociedad Portuaria operates as a multipurpose terminal and serves different cargo segments within the Colombian Caribbean port system. In this context, the AEO authorization strengthens its proposal for users who consider regulatory compliance, risk management, and efficiency as part of their logistical decisions.
For AAPA LATAM, which congratulated the Port of Barranquilla for the milestone achieved, the advance reflects a regional trend: ports in Latin America and the Caribbean face greater demands in security, control, and trade facilitation, in an environment where competitiveness no longer depends solely on infrastructure or installed capacity.
The quality of procedures, coordination between authorities and operators, and the ability to respond to the requirements of international chains are gaining increasing weight in port activity.
AAPA LATAM highlighted that processes of this type allow for sharing experiences and best practices among its affiliates, while strengthening the articulation between public and private actors in the maritime and port sector.
"The competitiveness of the sector depends as much on infrastructure and installed capacity as on the quality of procedures, institutional coordination, and the ability to adequately respond to the demands of the different actors involved in logistics chains," indicated AAPA LATAM.
Resolution No. 13212 of September 8, 2026, attests to the fulfillment of all minimum requirements for a port facility in the AEO Security and Facilitation category.
With the AEO authorization, the Port of Barranquilla incorporates new support for its security and facilitation processes. The challenge now will be to convert this recognition into greater efficiency and trust for foreign trade chains that use the terminal and, thereby, reinforce Barranquilla's role within the Colombian port system.
