Philippine cargo throughput grew 1.8% to 181.49 million metric tons (mmt) in 2012 from 178.29 mmt in 2011, based on latest data from the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).
Foreign shipments grew 3.11% to 107.35 mmt from 104.11 mmt but domestic volume dipped 0.04% to 74.14 mmt from 74.17 mmt.
Import cargo volume rose 6.64% to 56.90 mmt from 53.35 mmt. On the other hand, export shipments contracted 0.59% to 50.45 mmt from 50.75 mmt.
“A substantial increase in cargoes was observed in 17 ports with Puerto Princesa and San Fernando enjoying the biggest growth of 47.16% and 26.78%, respectively, due to higher export of mineral ores,” PPA said in its latest performance report.
“Decline in throughput was felt mostly in Iloilo, Cotabato, South Harbor and Ormoc,” it added.
Manila International Container Terminal remained the country’s top port handling 19.97 mmt and cornering the bulk or 11% of throughput nationwide.
Container throughout accelerated 5.20% to 5.19 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) from 4.93 million TEUs in 2011.
Foreign containerized shipments rose 4.62% to 3.15 million TEUs from 3 million TEUs. Of these, 1.59 million TEUs were accounted for by imports, up 5.78% from 1.50 million TEUs, and 1.56 million TEUs by exports, an improvement of 3.47% from 1.51 million TEUs.
Domestic containerized shipments jumped 6.11% to 2.04 million TEUs from 1.92 million TEUs.
North Harbor led all other ports in domestic containerized cargo volume, handling 863,912 TEUs in 2012.
Passenger volume inched up 0.74% to 49.85 million from 49.49 million. The slight increase reflects the impact of competition posed by airlines offering budget fares.
Ship calls rose 0.46% to 343,025 from 341,455.
Image courtesy of ICTSI
