No congestion at MICT, South Harbor — PPA

Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) and Manila South Harbor are “operating efficiently and far from being congested” even when cargo volumes are growing, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) said.

“As the trade volumes continue to increase, ports are also growing bigger and more efficient to meet the global demands,” PPA said in a statement.

In December 2024, Manila South Harbor had a daily average yard utilization rate of 59 percent, and MICT registered 71 percent, according to PPA data.

For January 2025, average utilization was higher at 72.70 percent for Manila South Harbor and 87.47 percent for MICT due to the recent holidays, PPA said.

In terms of container traffic, both international terminals recorded growth last year.

Manila South Harbor handled 1.29 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2024, up 6.92 percent from 1.21 million TEUs in 2023, while MICT processed 2.95 million TEUs in 2024, a 5.08 percent increase from 2.76 million TEUs in 2023.

Sustained rise in trade activity

PPA said these figures “reflect a sustained rise in trade activity, supported by the PPA’s efficient port management and strategic improvements in operations.”

PPA general manager Jay Daniel Santiago said that “despite the increase in cargo volumes, these figures indicate that ports continue to operate smoothly, preventing backlogs and delays in the movement of shipments.”

“In fact,” he said, “at any given time, yard utilization at the Port of Manila typically ranges from 67 percent to 70 percent, only peaking slightly during the holiday season.”

PPA said it has been implementing strategic measures to ensure Philippine ports remain competitive and resilient, including modernization and expansion of port infrastructure, digitalization of operations to improve efficiency, and close coordination with private terminal operators and logistics providers to optimize resource allocation.

Inter-agency cooperation

The agency is also enhancing inter-agency cooperation to develop unified solutions for logistics challenges, expanding regional ports to serve as alternative gateways, and establishing a crisis management framework to address potential supply chain bottlenecks.

Additionally, PPA said it continues to invest in disaster-resilient infrastructure and sustainable port operations to support long-term growth.

“Digitalization is the key. As we modernize the port infrastructures, we need to shift to strengthen our transition to digital network to support more efficient operations and further economic growth by the smooth flow of trade and real time data,” Santiago said.

Looking ahead, PPA remains optimistic about trade prospects for 2025, with projected cargo throughput expected to reach 301.47 million metric tons.

PPA said this growth will be driven by strong domestic consumption and sustained public investments.

Infrastructure projects, such as the construction of a cargo ship port in Dapa, Surigao del Norte; port improvements in Banago Port, Bacolod; and various expansion projects nationwide, are also expected to further enhance logistics capabilities and support regional economic development.