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Cargoes handled by Cebu ports in 2024 grew 6.5% to 71.901 million metric tons from 67.52 million mt in 2023 with both domestic and international shipments recording increases
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Cebu ports also processed 10.3% more containers at 993,270 TEUs and 7.3% more rolling cargoes in 2024
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Shipcalls rose 7.7% to 147,442 vessels while passenger traffic increased 4.4% to 19.581 million passengers
Cargoes handled by Cebu ports grew 6.5% to 71.901 million metric tons (mt) from 67.52 million mt in 2023 with both domestic and international shipments recording increases, according to data from the Cebu Port Authority (CPA).
Domestic cargoes, which accounted for 79.5% of the total, rose 6.1% to 57.126 million mt from 53.844 million mt in 2023.
Foreign cargoes likewise improved 8% year-on-year to 14.775 million mt due to the double-digit increase in imports and despite a double-digit decline in exports.
Imports grew last year by 12% to 13.415 million mt from 11.973 million mt while exports dropped 20% to 1.360 million mt from 1.703 million mt.
In terms of containers, Cebu ports handled 993,270 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2024, up 10.3% from 900,871 TEUs posted in 2023.
Domestic containers shared 50.1% or 504,728 TEUs of the total, while also seeing a 5.1% hike from 480,334 TEUs in 2023.
Foreign containers, meanwhile, rose 16.2% to 488,542 TEUs from 420,537 TEUs in 2023.
Both import and export containers recorded double-digit year-on-year increases of 16.7% to 236,153 TEUs, and 15.7% to 252,389 TEUs, respectively.
Rolling cargoes that passed through Cebu ports in 2024 also improved 7.3% to 1.772 million units from 1.651 million units in 2023.
Shipcalls in 2024 also grew 7.7% to 147,442 vessels from 136,879 vessels. Accounting for bulk of the total were domestic shipcalls, which rose 7.7% to 146,363 vessels while foreign shipcalls increased 12.3% to 1,079 vessels.
Cebu ports also saw a 4.4% year-on-year increase in passenger traffic to 19.581 million passengers.
CPA’s jurisdiction is composed of the Cebu baseport and its subports that are strategically located in different points of Cebu. Cebu baseport is composed of Cebu International Port and the domestic zone, while subports include the ports of Mandaue, Danao, Sta. Fe, Toledo and Argao.
A new port, the New Cebu International Container Port (NCICP), meanwhile, will be constructed in Tayug, Consolacion, some eight kilometers from the Cebu base port. Once operational, NCICP will handle international cargo operations while the Cebu baseport will service domestic and bulk and breakbulk shipments.
READ: New Cebu port construction may now finally begin
The new international terminal is seen as the long-term solution to growing volumes handled at Cebu International Port, which currently handles foreign cargoes at Cebu baseport.
Updates on NCICP will be discussed at the Visayas Shipping Conference and Exhibit 2025 on February 27 at the City Sports Club Cebu. The conference is being organized by PortCalls in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry Region 7. – Roumina Pablo
