Guatemala Approves New National Port Authority Law

Guatemala's Congress passed the Ley General del Sistema Portuario Nacional, creating the Autoridad Portuaria Nacional (APN). The law gives the state a majority on the APN board—four seats for ministries of Communications, Economy and Governance and a presidential delegate—while allowing a single representative from the Consejo de Usuarios. The private sector organization Cacif welcomed the legislation, saying it modernizes the legal framework, strengthens institutional certainty and will make the port system more efficient and competitive.

The APN is expected to coordinate, regulate and supervise the national port system, providing a clearer investment climate. Industry representatives noted that cargo volumes have risen 26% since 2019, reaching 35 million metric tons in 2025, and view the law as a signal for further public and private investment in port infrastructure.