Mindanao Container Terminal (MCT) in southern Philippines posted a 4% increase in its January volume to 16,162 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) from 15,412 TEUs year-on-year, thanks to strong volume from anchor shippers Del Monte and Pilipinas Kao.
Phividec seaport manager Dante Clarito told PortCalls MCTSI is expecting volume to be erratic this year due to both local and global economic concerns. Phividec oversees MCT, operated by International Container Terminal Services, Inc subsidiary MCT Services, Inc (MCTSI).
Clarito said he understands MCTSI is “trying to develop new markets for the terminal this year. The forecast volume this year is not very pleasing and the new markets being developed will be used to plug volume losses from current markets.”
“MCTSI has yet to finalize their new targets but definitely there will be downward adjustments… brought about by the current local and global economic situations,” Clarito added.
Last year MCT posted a 17% increase in cargo volume to 180,000 TEUs from 210,507 TEUs in 2011.
However, toward the end of the year government tightened its noose on logging operations in the area, resulting in a volume downturn particularly from the wood product sector.
To complement initiatives of MCTSI, Phividec is embarking on aggressive marketing to lure more businesses to locate to the freeport.
Photo from International Container Terminal Service, Inc
