Current Time in America/Porto_Velho Time Zone
IANA Name: America/Porto_Velho
Standard Offset: UTC −04:00
Daylight Saving: No
Currently Observing DST: No ❌
America/Porto_Velho: Brazil’s Western Amazon Time Zone
America/Porto_Velho is the IANA time zone identifier for a region covering the western part of the Brazilian Amazon, anchored by the city of Porto Velho. It observes a fixed offset of UTC-04:00 year-round, with no daylight saving time adjustments. This zone is used exclusively in Brazil, primarily in the state of Rondônia and parts of Amazonas and Mato Grosso.
Geographic and Political Coverage
America/Porto_Velho applies to the Brazilian state of Rondônia (capital Porto Velho) and portions of the states of Amazonas and Mato Grosso. It is one of four Brazilian time zones, lying west of the Brasília time zone (UTC-03:00). The zone covers a sparsely populated but economically important region, including the Madeira River basin and parts of the Trans-Amazonian Highway.
Offset and Abbreviation
The standard offset is UTC-04:00, meaning local time is four hours behind Coordinated Universal Time. The common abbreviation is AMT (Amazon Time), though this is not an official IANA designation. Unlike many time zones, there is no seasonal variation: the offset remains constant throughout the year.
No Daylight Saving Time
Brazil abolished daylight saving time nationwide in 2019. Prior to that, some regions (including parts of the Amazon) observed DST, but America/Porto_Velho never participated. The zone has kept a uniform UTC-04:00 offset for decades, simplifying scheduling for residents and businesses.
Key Cities and Population
The largest city is Porto Velho (population ~500,000). Other significant towns include Ji-Paraná, Ariquemes, and Vilhena. The region’s economy is driven by agriculture, mining, and hydroelectric power (notably the Santo Antônio Dam).
Business Hours and International Coordination
With a fixed UTC-04:00 offset, America/Porto_Velho aligns with Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) in North America during summer, but is one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time (EST) in winter. For European calls, Porto Velho is 5 hours behind London (UTC+00:00) and 6 hours behind Central European Time (UTC+01:00). When scheduling with other Brazilian zones, note that Brasília (UTC-03:00) is one hour ahead, and the far-western Amazon zones (UTC-05:00) are one hour behind.
Comparison with Other UTC-04:00 Zones
Several Caribbean and South American zones share the same standard offset, including America/Anguilla, America/Antigua, America/Aruba, America/Barbados, America/Blanc-Sablon (Canada), America/Boa_Vista (Brazil), America/Campo_Grande (Brazil), America/Caracas (Venezuela), America/Cuiaba (Brazil), America/Curacao, America/Dominica, and America/Glace_Bay (Canada). However, many of these observe daylight saving time (e.g., America/Glace_Bay follows DST, shifting to UTC-03:00 in summer). America/Porto_Velho remains constant, making it distinct for year-round scheduling.
Historical Context
The zone’s boundaries were formalized in the 1913 time zone decree and later refined in 2008. Porto Velho was chosen as the anchor city due to its status as the state capital and its central location within the zone. The offset was historically set to approximate local mean time at the 60th meridian west.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current time in America/Porto_Velho?
The current time is UTC-04:00 year-round. You can check a world clock for the exact local time.
Does America/Porto_Velho observe daylight saving time?
No. Brazil abolished DST in 2019, and this zone never observed it even before that.
Which Brazilian states use America/Porto_Velho?
Rondônia (entire state), and parts of Amazonas and Mato Grosso.
What is the difference between America/Porto_Velho and America/Manaus?
America/Manaus uses UTC-04:00 as well, but covers different areas (most of Amazonas state). Both share the same offset and no DST.
How do I convert Porto Velho time to New York time?
Porto Velho is UTC-04:00. New York is UTC-05:00 (EST) or UTC-04:00 (EDT). So during EST, Porto Velho is 1 hour ahead; during EDT, they are the same.
Is America/Porto_Velho the same as Atlantic Standard Time (AST)?
Yes, both are UTC-04:00, but AST is used in the Caribbean and often observes DST. America/Porto_Velho does not.