16 MARCH 2024, MANILA — The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is once again making waves internationally as it continues to participate in economic globalization through strategic performance as reflected in the latest figures and the highest since its inception in 1974.
As of March 14, 2024, the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) operated by International Container Terminal Service, Inc.’s (ICTSI) unloaded the 50 millionth twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU).
One of the ways to measure the effectiveness of ports can be through Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (TEU) which is the exact unit of measurement used to determine cargo capacity for container ships and terminals.
MICT, one of the international ports in Manila, was able to unload its 50 millionth TEU container from MV Seabreeze, operated by Ocean Network Express (ONE). The shipment is owned by HRD Singapore PTE Ltd. Since beginning of its operations in 1988, MICT has been at the forefront of innovation within the Philippine port industry.
With 50 million TEU container, the Port of Manila demonstrates that it has the infrastructure, machinery, and logistical capacity to manage a significant amount of containerized goods. MICT is the first port of PPA to handle the said amount of TEU.
This level of capacity suggests that the port is a significant center for international trade, functioning as a vital point in worldwide supply networks. This is essential for facilitating the flow of goods across borders and regions that have a good effect on our economy, such as manufacturing, logistics, and transportation, creating jobs and promoting economic growth.
In 2022, based on the Drewry Maritime Research, the Port of Manila was able to handle a total of 5,474,484 TEUs, marking a significant 10 percent increase compared to the 4,976,014 TEUs handled in 2021, making it the 7th busiest gateway port in Southeast Asia (including all container, gateway, transshipment and domestic cargo). Port of Manila also recorded a growth rate of 10.7 percent after handling a total of 3,962,111 TEUs in 2022 compared to 3,580,642 TEUs in the 2021.
Ports in the South also demonstrated huge advancements such as the Port of Davao with a 0.1 percent growth, handling 824,898 TEUs in 2022 from 824,343 TEUs in 2021.
PPA General Manager Jay Santiago expressed his congratulations to ICTSI Vice President Christian R. Gonzales and ONE Philippines Managing Director Jose Juan Lacson.
"The growth in container volume as shown in the figures translates into better development for the economy, creating a ripple effect in all sectors," GM Santiago concluded.
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