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Higher domestic shipments boosted Cebu ports’ first quarter cargo volume by 3.7% in the first quarter of 2025 to 17.706 million metric tons year-on-year
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Container throughput dropped 2.2% to 229,552 TEUs as domestic containers recorded a double-digit decline
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Rolling cargoes were 6% up to 451,247 units
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Ship calls grew 7.4% to 38,459 vessel calls while passenger traffic slipped 1.7% to 4.767 million
Higher domestic shipments boosted Cebu ports’ first-quarter cargo volume by 3.7%, according to preliminary data from the Cebu Port Authority (CPA).
Ports under CPA recorded 17.706 million metric tons (mt) of cargoes from January to March 2025, higher than the 17.067 million mt posted in the first quarter of last year.
The Argao subport contributed the biggest cargo volume to the total with 3.816 million mt or a share of 22%, followed by the subport of Toledo with 2.775 million mt or 16%.
Domestic cargoes accounted for 81.8% of the total with 14.487 million mt, up 6.5% from 13.607 million in the first quarter of last year.
Foreign cargoes, on the other hand, dropped 7% in the first quarter to 3.219 million from 3.46 million mt in the same quarter last year due to the decline in imports and exports.
Imports fell 6.4% to 2.821 million, while exports shrank 11% to 397,877 mt.
In terms of containers, Cebu ports saw a 2.2% decline in the first quarter to 229,552 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) from 234,787 TEUs in the same period last year as domestic containers recorded a double-digit decline.
Cebu International Port (CIP) handled the highest number of containers during the period with 77,896 TEUs or 34% of the total, though 30% lower than the 111,398 TEUs handled in the first quarter of last year.
Domestic containers dropped 10.6% to 107,676 TEUs while domestic transshipments dropped 4% to 2,966 TEUs.
Foreign containers, meanwhile, grew 6.9% to 118,910 TEUs from 111,233 TEUs as both imports and exports increased.
Exports improved 11% to 64,883 TEUs while imports rose 2% to 54,027 TEUs.
Rolling cargoes likewise recorded a 6% increment to 451,247 units. Motorcycles/motorbikes were the top rolling cargo for the period, with 60,629 units for inbound and 52,612 units for outbound.
Ship calls to Cebu ports in the first quarter of the year were 7.4% up year-on-year to 38,459 vessel calls.
Domestic ship calls were 7.4% higher at 38,203 while foreign ship calls grew 6.2% to 256 vessel calls.
Passenger traffic during the first quarter declined slightly by 1.7% to 4.767 million from 4.851 million passengers recorded in the same period last year.
CPA terminal operations officer for CIP Jan Jeiynold Butaslac earlier said CPA eyes a conservative 1.4% increase in cargo volumes and 2.5% higher passenger traffic at Cebu ports this year after recording growth in 2024.
READ: Cebu Port Authority expects 1.4% rise in 2025 cargo volume
For 2025, Cebu ports are projected to handle 72.9 million mt of cargoes and 20.088 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 CIP 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 International Container Port finally breaks ground
The new international terminal is seen as the long-term solution to growing volumes handled at CIP, which currently handles foreign cargoes at Cebu baseport.
READ: Domestic traffic bolsters Cebu cargo volume by 3% in Jan-Feb
