The Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) expects cargo volume to further increase this year due to strong export volumes.
“There has been a significant improvement in volume due to the improving export sector,” said MICT general manager Christian Gonzalez, even as he noted a reduction in the export of empty containers.
Philippine exports rose 8.8% for the first two months of the year to $8.554 billion from $7.865 billion during the same period in 2011.
Electronics remained the country’s top export product. This year, the sector is projecting a 10-15% growth.
“The trade imbalance has improved compared to last year and we expect it will get even better as the year progresses. As a result, we expect better cargo volume this year than last year.”
Gonzalez, however, declined to cite specific growth projections due to strict disclosure requirements by the Philippine Stock Exchange. MICT is the flagship terminal of International Container Terminal Services, Inc, a publicly listed company.
Meanwhile, MICT’s $150-million Berth 6 is set for inauguration in June. By then eight rubber-tired gantry cranes would have been delivered to the facility.
Much of the needed quay cranes are already in place although two more are expected to arrive next month and another in February 2013.
Once complete, Berth 6 will boost MICT capacity by 25% to 2.4 million twenty-foot equivalent units from the current 1.9 million TEUs.
Photo courtesy of International Container Terminal Services, Inc
