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Domestic traffic bolstered Cebu ports’ cargo volumes by 3% year-on-year to 11.203 million metric tons in the first two months of the year
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Container traffic slipped 2% to 150,855 TEUs during the period, dragged by the double-digit declines in domestic and domestic transshipment
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Domestic rolling cargoes jumped 10.3% to 295,944 units while ship calls were 9.5% higher at 25,405
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Passenger traffic was up 1.1% to 3.282 million from 3.245 million last year
Higher domestic traffic bolstered Cebu ports’ cargo volumes by 3% to 11.203 million metric tons (mt) in the first two months of the year compared to the same period last year.
Domestic cargoes, which accounted for 82% of the total, increased 5.6% to 8.683 million mt, according to preliminary data from the Cebu Port Authority (CPA).
Foreign cargoes, on the other hand, dropped 7.6% to 2.031 million mt as both imports and exports saw declines during the period.
Imports fell 7.8% to 1.759 million mt while exports shrank 6.3% to 272,154 mt.
Lower container traffic
Cebu ports recorded a 2% drop in container traffic to 150,855 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in January to February, dragged down by double-digit declines in domestic containers and domestic transshipments.
Domestic containers dropped 11.6% to 68,594 TEUs from 77,566 TEUs, while domestic transshipments tanked 42.2% to 1,192 TEUs from 2,064 TEUs last year.
Meanwhile, foreign containers volume grew 9% to 81,069 TEUs from 74,381 TEUs on account of higher exports, which jumped 18.5% to 44,393 TEUs. Import containers slipped by 0.7% to 36,676 TEUs.
Domestic rolling cargoes rose 10.3% to 295,944 units from 268,317 units.
Ship calls to Cebu ports were 9.5% higher in January-February 2025 at 25,405. Domestic ship calls, which account for the majority of the calls, increased 9.5% to 25,239 while foreign ship calls climbed up 9.2% to 166 ships.
Passenger traffic inched up 1.1% to 3.282 million from 3.245 million last year.
CPA terminal operations officer for Cebu International Port (CIP) Jan Jeiynold Butaslac at the recent PortCalls-organized Visayas Shipping Conference and Exhibit 2025 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) 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.
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. – Roumina Pablo
