The country’s cargo traffic volume was up by 4.5 percent in the first half of the year versus a year ago driven by the continued growth in both domestic and foreign cargo, according to latest data from the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).
PPA data showed that cargo throughput from January to June stood at 128.8 million metric tons (MT) compared to the same period last year of 123 million MT, as domestic cargo rose 2.5 percent to 48.9 million MT while foreign cargo grew 5.8 percent to 79.9 million MT.
However, container traffic volume was down by 3.4 percent to 3.7 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) in the first six months of the year from 3.83 million TEUs in the same period last year.
PPA attributed this to a 17 percent decline in domestic container traffic at 1.24 million TEUs six months into the year versus 1.5 million TEUs a year ago.
PPA said foreign container traffic volume also fell by 4.3 percent to 2.4 million TEUs from 2.3 million TEUs in the previous year.
Meanwhile, the easing of travel restrictions led the number of sea passengers to surge by 24 percent to 34.7 million as of end-June, from 28 million in the same period last year.
In the first semester, PPA reported a 23 percent increase in profit to P6.19 billion versus the P5.02 billion it earned in the same period in 2022. This was also 7.85 percent higher than its target for the first six months of the year.
PPA said total revenue from January to June rose 10.83 percent to P10.46 billion from P9.44 billion in 2022.
In a related development, the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) has committed to align its strategic plans and programs with the long-term Maritime Industry Development Plan (MIDP), said Marina Administrator Hernani Fabia.
Led by the Planning and Policy Service, Marina conducted a three-day workshop for the updating of the MARINA Voyage Plan (MVP) 2028 from July 31 to August 2, for the service unit and regional directors, officers-in-charge and planners from all regions of the agency.
Fabia reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to aligning its plans with the MIDP, emphasizing the importance of contributing effectively to the development and growth of the maritime industry.
The workshop’s primary objective was to update the MVP’s five-year strategic deliverables and contributions and program scorecards. This is to ensures that Marina’s initiatives and projects are geared towards fulfilling the MIDP’s vision and objectives.
Through this alignment, Marina said it is committed to responsible and strategic planning, ensuring the effective implementation of the MIDP’s goals.
By charting its course in accordance with the long-term vision for the maritime industry, Marina said it is poised to significantly contribute to the sector’s growth, safety and sustainability in the years to come.
