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The Bureau of Customs-Port of Manila reminded importers, shipping lines, and other concerned stakeholders to strictly comply with prescribed timelines for the release of imported cargoes and re-export of empty containers
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The reminder comes as overall yard utilization of Manila South Harbor for the latter part of April and May has so far been more than 70%, is higher than the more than 60% reported in the earlier weeks of April
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The BOC-POM district collector directed all concerned stakeholders to file the necessary goods declarations; pay assessed duties, taxes, and other charges; and claim or release cleared cargoes within the prescribed period
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Shipping lines are likewise reminded to “re-export containers stuffed with imported cargoes within 90 days from the date of return to the shipping lines”
The Bureau of Customs-Port of Manila (BOC-POM) reminded importers, shipping lines, and other concerned stakeholders to strictly comply with prescribed timelines for the release of imported cargoes and re-export of empty containers.
The reminder contained in a May 22 memo by the BOC-POM district collector was issued in connection with a directive from the Commissioner of Customs, also dated May 22, 2026, calling for stricter monitoring and reporting of overstaying containers.
It also comes as overall yard utilization at Manila South Harbor — under the BOC-POM collection district — has been more than 70% for the latter part of April and May (per BOC-POM utilization updates). This compares with the more than 60% reported in the earlier weeks of April.
In the May 22 memo, the BOC-POM district collector directed all concerned stakeholders to file the necessary goods declarations; pay assessed duties, taxes, and other charges; and claim or release cleared cargoes within the prescribed period. Failure to do so, the advisory warned, will result in such cargoes being deemed abandoned under Section 1129 (Abandonment, Kinds and Effects of) of Republic Act No. 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).
Shipping lines were likewise reminded to “re-export containers stuffed with imported cargoes within 90 days from the date of return to the shipping lines.”
Containers that are not re-exported within the prescribed window will be subject to duties and taxes pursuant to Section 5 of Customs Administrative Order (CAO) No. 01-2015, which shortened the period for re-exporting of empty containers from 150 days to 90 days. Aside from CAO No. 01-2015, CAO No. 08-2019 requires that containers arriving, whether loaded or empty, should be re-exported within 90 days from the date of discharge of the last package.
Relatedly, Assessment and Operations Coordinating Group (AOCG) Memo No. 69-2026 was issued last April 29 directing BOC district collectors to ensure the strict monitoring of the movement of all incoming and outgoing containers, including compliance with prescribed dwell time, in order to initiate proper abandonment proceedings and/or collect duties and taxes in cases of overstaying containers.
The BOC advisories were issued amid high yard utilization rates at Manila international terminals since early this year with overall rates reaching more than 100% due to “a convergence of seasonal, operational, and logistical factors observed since mid-December of last year”. Since March the situation has improved for the Manila South Harbor.
Meanwhile, the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) recently sought support from shipping lines, customers, and consignees to expedite the withdrawal of laden containers as the terminal continues to experience higher yard utilization and inventory due to longer laden container dwell times.
In a May 19 advisory to shipping line partners, MICT reported that approximately 41% of yard inventory remains beyond free time, placing sustained pressure on terminal operations and resulting in extended vessel waiting times and sporadic empty acceptance across the system.
READ: MICT appeals for faster container withdrawal
MICT said it continues to intensify efforts to minimize the impact on vessels currently queuing at the harbor pilot station, and has been coordinating directly with customers and consignees to help facilitate and prioritize pull-outs.
Association of International Shipping Lines, Inc. (AISL) president Patrick Ronas echoed the urgency of the situation. He noted some of the overstaying containers at MICT are abandoned and “from what we hear, some have been cleared by the BOC but have yet to be picked up by the consignees”
“There should be concerted effort amongst all, private and government, to clear the MICT of these overstaying laden [containers],” Ronas said. He also called on customs brokers to remind their clients to be ready to accept cargo as quickly as possible, and urged the BOC to review its own processes to speed up clearance.
Ronas also explained that empty containers are often blamed but are not the driver of high utilization at the terminal. “Please note that MICT has been transparent in saying that empty acceptance has been sporadic. If empties from the off dock depots are not able to enter the terminal for ship out on the vessels then it stays in the offdock depot. Until such time that we are able to move them out. I will repeat, shipping lines do not need the empties to stay longer than expected as the containers are needed by other countries for their export needs. We continue to be import dominant and it is foreseen that it will remain the same in the long term.”
Moreover, Ronas said there are “some quarters that think that empty containers are the reason for the high utilization at the terminals and therefore the need to lessen the stay of containers in the Philippines” but noted this “will kill our exports.”
There are calls from various stakeholders’ groups to reduce the 90-day dwell time of containers to force shipping lines to evacuate them faster and free up space in empty depots. Issues in the return of empty containers to container yards has been a long standing industry concern.
“Decades ago our trading pattern was different. Shipping lines had to position empty containers into the Philippines for export use. To do that now will be costly and kill our export market. Other markets in Asia does not have such limitation on containers. This will also mean that import freight will be charged with the taxes and duties of the containers if in case the consignee does not return the units in time. What we need is support and not over regulation,” Ronas said.
BOC last March said it is looking to develop a comprehensive strategy to address port congestion, incorporating both operational and policy interventions.
The agency is reviewing container monitoring systems such as the Automated Container Movement Monitoring System, Customs Container Management System, and In-Transit Asset Management and Supervision System, and will pursue the accreditation of off-dock container depots.
READ: Draft rules on empty container monitoring system up for review
