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There is no congestion in Manila international terminals, according to the Philippine Ports Authority
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As of February 14, yard utilization at the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) was at 54.65% while Manila South Harbor’s was at 58.12%
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As of January 31, 2023, there are 7,765 containers or 12,480.75 TEUs overstaying in MICT
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PPA forecasts a 7-8% increase growth in cargo traffic in 2023
There is no congestion in Manila international terminals, according to the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).
As of February 14, yard utilization at the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) was at 54.65% while Manila South Harbor’s was at 58.12%, PPA said in a statement. These were lower than the recorded 80.75% and 67.80% at MICT and Manila South Harbor, respectively, in January 2023. In December 2022, yard utilization at the two gateways were also higher at 78% for MICT and 68% for Manila South Harbor.
“Yard utilization is naturally dropping back to the optimal rate which is 50% or below now that the holiday season is over,” PPA noted. It added, however, that yard utilization rate is dependent on the withdrawal of cargoes by shippers and consignees.
PPA said while yard utilization has improved, container traffic remains high, particularly in MICT. As of January 31, 2023, there are still about 7,765 containers or 12,480.75 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) overstaying in MICT, lower than the 12,919 containers or 20,990 TEUs recorded in December 2022.
PPA, meanwhile, is optimistic for 2023 with more projects coming up and with the consistent appeal to pull out the overstaying cargoes to make the needed space in the ports.
“We’re still optimistic, we are looking at a 7-8% growth this year as far as cargo traffic is concerned. As you know, we are a consumption economy so even if a lot of other jurisdictions experience some form of recession, our country continues on consuming and as our population grows, consumption will eventually get higher and higher,” PPA general manager Atty. Jay Daniel Santiago said.
According to preliminary report from its website, cargo volume handled by PPA ports declined 0.16% to 261.62 million metric tons in 2022 from 262.051 million mt in 2021 as exports recorded a double-digit drop.
In terms of containers, PPA ports handled 7.908 million TEUs in 2022, up 7.2% from the 7.374 million TEUs recorded in 2021.
