# Elat (IL ETH)

**UN/LOCODE:** IL ETH  
**Country:** Israel  
**Water Body:** Gulf of Aqaba; Red Sea; Indian Ocean  
**Harbor Size:** Small  
**Harbor Type:** Coastal (Natural)  
**GPS:** 29.5500, 34.9500

Israel's only Red Sea outlet has become a cautionary tale for shippers. Set on the Gulf of Aqaba at the country's southern tip, Elat historically served two cargo flows rather than container lines: vehicle imports (around 150,000 cars in 2023, close to half of all Israeli car imports) and exports of potash, phosphate and minerals shipped by chemicals group ICL. It is not a container or general-cargo gateway, and customs-cleared box traffic routes through the Mediterranean ports instead. Since the Houthi blockade that began in late 2023, activity has all but stopped: just 16 vessel calls in 2024, no cars landed, revenue down from 212 to 42 million shekels, and a September 2024 drone strike that killed two people. Forwarders with Israeli consignments currently divert to Ashdod and Haifa, bridging the inland leg by road or rail. Anyone weighing a Red Sea routing should verify the security situation and the limited liner availability at Elat before booking.

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*Freight Academy — Seaport Profile: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/elat-port-il-eth](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/elat-port-il-eth)*

*Markdown mirror: [https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/seaports/en/elat-port-il-eth](https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/seaports/en/elat-port-il-eth)*

*LLM-Summary (JSON): https://www.freight-academy.com/api/v1/seaports/elat-port-il-eth/llm-summary?lang=en*