INBOUND and outbound containerized and non-containerized cargoes handled by Philippine ports increased 2.97% in 2013 to 199.18 million metric tons (mmt) year-on-year, reflecting growth in the country’s imports and exports last year, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).
The PPA partly attributed the 5.74 mmt increase in cargo throughput from 193.44 mmt in 2012 to growth in volume at the 14 port management offices (PMO).
Of the 2013 total, foreign cargoes accounted for 122.405 mmt, 3.95% higher than the 117.750 mmt in 2012, data from the PPA showed. Domestic cargoes also increased 1.44% to 76.775 mmt in 2013 from 75.688 mmt in 2012.
The PMO of Tagbilaran posted the highest increase at 61.03%, followed by Nasipit at 22.59% and San Fernando at 17.04%.
PPA said the growth of these ports was driven by healthy shipments of aggregates, heavy equipment and construction materials, nickel ore, crude palm oil, and coal, and exportation of limestone, and sand.
Among the 24 PMOs, PMO Surigao topped the list with a 15.34% share or 30.55 mmt in the total volume, surpassing the total throughput in Mindanao and Visayas port district offices.
In terms of foreign cargoes, Surigao even outperformed the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT), although the latter is classified as a single port and the former an amalgamation of smaller ports.
PMO Batangas followed with 21.42 mmt, then PMO North Harbor with 19.5 mmt and Limay with 16.23 mmt.
Private ports accounted for 122.16 mmt or 61.33% of the total while government ports handled 38.67% or 77.02 mmt.
Containerized volume also grew in 2013, posting 5.244 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU), 0.70% higher compared with the 5.207 million TEUs in 2012.
Manila International Container Terminal retained its top rank in terms of foreign containerized cargoes handled with 1.901 TEUs followed by the South Harbor with 937,528 TEUs, and Davao with 257,380 TEUs.
North Harbor maintained its position as the top port for domestic containerized cargoes for 2013 with 899,399 TEUs.
Shipcalls rose 3.71% to 356,299 in 2013 from 343,552 in 2012.
Growth was also seen in passenger traffic, with the country’s ports servicing 53.206 million people in 2013 or 7.92% higher than the 49.301 million in the previous year.–– Roumina M. Pablo
Photo courtesy of Asian Terminals Inc
