PHILIPPINE cargo throughput grew 9.59% to 165.11 million metric tons (mmt) last year from 150.73 mmt in 2009, according to latest data from the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).
The port agency attributed the increase to strong performance of the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) and the ports of Surigao and Limay as well as positive showing of import and export container cargo.
Container throughput reached 4.47 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2010, up 11.45% from 3.99 million TEUs in the previous year.
Domestic cargo volume dropped 5.06 mmt or 7.04% from 72 mmt to 66.94 mmt due mainly to lower inbound and outbound volume at the North Harbor, South Harbor and the port of Legazpi.
Despite a 4.57% dip in volume handled from 2009, Batangas emerged as the country’s leading port, accounting for 12.08% of the 2010 total volume.
MICT came in second with 11.12% of the aggregate, handling 18.26 mmt, 16.8% more than the 15.639 mmt in 2009.
Strong exports of nickel silicate ores and mineral ores boosted volumes at the port of Surigao, making it the third biggest in terms of cargo throughput for 2010 with a 10.11% share of the total. Last year, 16.61 mmt passed through Surigao from 10.99 mmt in 2009. The 51.11% difference gives the port the distinction of having recorded the highest volume growth year-on-year.
Meanwhile, passenger volume went up 8.62 million or 19.65% in 2010. The number of interisland travelers jumped 19.64%. Foreign passenger traffic at South Harbor and Zamboanga also rose 21.64%.
The ports of Batangas, Calapan, Zamboanga, Legazpi and Tagbilaran recorded the most number of passengers last year.
Shipcalls increased 17,451 or 5.55%. Domestic and foreign shipcalls went up 5.47% and 7.98%, respectively.
The ports with the most number of shipcalls for 2010 were Batangas, Dumaguete, Legazpi, Pulupandan and Tagbilaran.
