LOCAL cargo carrier Solid Shipping Lines (SSL) is optimistic it can hit its 10% volume target for the year despite soft figures for July and August.
SSL general manager Quirimon Tan told PortCalls the volume for July and August is down 10% but that shipments are expected to increase in the runup to Christmas.
For January to August this year, volume is already higher by 5% compared to the same period last year, thanks in part to strong election spending at the beginning of the year.
“We are optimistic we can hit our 10% volume growth this year as we are already in the ‘ber’ months that signal the start of the Christmas season,” Tan said.
“We expect the continued confidence of the business sector — particularly the export sector – in the new administration will translate into additional volume for us,” he said.
“Hopefully, the strong performance of businesses in the country can be maintained so we can all fully recover from the negative effects of the global financial crisis.”
In the last few months, SSL ships have carried mostly garments, food and beverages and other perishables.
To date, SSL’s north- and south-bound volumes have surpassed pre-crisis levels mainly on account of strong exports from small- and medium-sized enterprises.
Import volumes are also performing well but are still below their pre-crisis levels.
Just recently, SSL introduced the 200-TEU Solid Ocean to accommodate increasing demand to and from Davao, General Santos, Cagayan de Oro and other parts of Mindanao.
The other SSL vessels are Solid Star, Solid Pearl, Solid Ace, Solid Gold, Solid Bay, Solid Jade, Solid Sun and Solid Link.
SSL is among the country’s top five cargo carriers servicing key markets such as General Santos (carrying live hogs, tuna and agricultural products) and Davao (pineapple and cereals).
