The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) on Tuesday, September 23, assured that no congestion is expected at the country’s ports even during the peak season, citing safeguards that have been in place since 2014 to ensure the smooth and timely release of cargo.
Speaking at the National Maritime Week press conference on September 23, PPA assistant general manager for operations Mark Palomar said currently, daily yard utilization rates remain manageable and the smooth flow of cargo to continues.
“The last time we experienced congestion was way back in 2014. Since then, we have put safeguards in place to ensure the continuous release of cargo, so don’t expect any congestion now,” Palomar said in Filipino.
PPA data showed that the daily yard utilization rate at the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) stood at 80.61 percent as of September 23, 2025, higher than the 78.31 percent recorded in the same period last year.
At the Manila South Harbor (MSH), the daily average yard utilization rate was 61.57 percent as of September 23, 2025, lower than the 68.72 percent recorded in the same month last year, PPA said.
Cargo traffic volume surged by 7.5 percent to 149 million metric tons in the first half of this year, up from 138.5 million metric tons in the same period last year, the PPA said.
Container traffic also posted double-digit growth, rising 11 percent to 4.16 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) from 3.75 million TEUs a year earlier, reflecting stronger manufacturing activity and higher logistics demand.
Sea passenger traffic likewise grew by 10 percent, reaching 46 million passengers from 42 million in the same period last year. The cruise sector continued its strong rebound, with passenger volume nearly doubling to 143,149 from 74,849, a 91 percent increase that underscored the ports’ role in reviving tourism and supporting local economies.
PPA’s financial performance also improved significantly. Net income after tax surged 78 percent to P6.72 billion in the first half of 2025, boosted by increased cargo traffic.
As of June 2025, the agency generated P14.7 billion in revenues, surpassing its mid-year target of P13.77 billion and marking a 13.7 percent increase compared with the same period in 2024.
The growth was driven by higher vessel and cargo traffic, favorable movements in dollar-denominated tariffs, increased storage fees, and income from regulatory sources.
