Essential Maritime Information on Bolivia

Bolivia is a landlocked country in South America, which means it has no maritime coastline. This geographical peculiarity results from the War of the Pacific (1879–1884), during which the country lost about 400 km of coastline on the Pacific Ocean to Chile. Despite this fact, Bolivia has maintained a historical and political aspiration to regain sovereign access to the sea. This claim remains an important diplomatic issue between Bolivia and Chile, reflecting Bolivia's desire to secure a maritime corridor that would strengthen its international trade. The landlocked position imposes major logistical challenges on Bolivia. The absence of a direct maritime frontage forces the country to rely on bilateral agreements with its neighbors to access Pacific ports, notably those of Chile, Peru, and more recently, the Brazilian coast via the port of Itajaí.

Although Bolivia does not have its own seaport, it has river and rail infrastructure to connect its main production centers to foreign ports. River trade routes are notably used on the Paraguay and Paraná rivers for indirect access to the Atlantic via the Paraguayan port of Villeta and the Argentine port of Rosario. Bolivian authorities have established strategic partnerships to facilitate and secure the transit of goods. International agreements guarantee the free movement of ships and customs cooperation to smooth trade. Bolivia also prioritizes the development of its capabilities in port logistics through free zones and multimodal platforms. Finally, Bolivia is closely interested in South American regional initiatives promoting the integration and connection of land, river, and maritime transport networks to improve its access to international markets and reduce its export and import costs.