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Paircargo released 4.971 million kilograms of cargo from May to July 27 at NAIA, with the bulk — 4.308 million kg — cleared in the first 27 days of July alone, signaling a dramatic acceleration in cargo releases after months of congestion
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The number of unit load devices in remote staging areas has been slashed from a peak of roughly 755 ULDs to just 40 as of July 21, a sign that the backlog built up during the worst of the congestion crisis is finally being worked through
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Paircargo has commissioned a satellite warehouse capable of handling an estimated 24.24 million kilograms per month — nearly matching the size of the former NAIA International Cargo Terminal — while BOC-NAIA has set a target of clearing all remaining backlog by end of July, ahead of the traditionally high-volume “ber” months
There are signs that the logjam at the at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport is breaking.
People’s Air Cargo and Warehousing Co., Inc. (Paircargo) released a total of 4.971 million kilograms of cargo from May to July 27, 2026, with the pace of clearing accelerating as new capacity measures took hold. Of the total, only 19,099 kg were released in May — the month the crisis was at its worst — followed by 644,468 kg in June, and then a significant 4.308 million kg in the first 27 days of July alone.
Still, 2.954 million kg of cargo remained pending as of July 27 — a reminder that the situation is improving but not yet resolved.
One of the clearest measures of progress is the dramatic decline in cargo held in remote staging areas. At the height of the congestion, roughly 755 unit load devices (ULDs) — the containers and pallets used to carry air cargo — were being held in temporary overflow locations outside Paircargo’s main facility. As of July 21, that number had fallen to just 40.
Paircargo traces the crisis to the collapse in NAIA warehouse capacity that followed the closure of the Philippine Skylanders International (PSI) facility — reclaimed by NAIA operator New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) for redevelopment after its 2024 takeover of the airport. With PSI gone and Miascor shuttered since 2018, Paircargo and Cargohaus are the only customs bonded warehouses left serving multiple carriers. Paircargo, which handles roughly 70% of NAIA’s air cargo volume due to its direct ramp access, absorbed the full force of the resulting volume surge.
The contrast with pre-crisis performance is stark. In the first quarter of 2026, Paircargo achieved an average cargo release rate of 99% — essentially clearing cargo as fast as it arrived. In the second quarter, after PSI’s closure redirected cargo volumes to its facility, that rate dropped to 81%. Even so, the company said it continued releasing an average of 400 metric tonnes — or 400,000 kilograms — of cargo every day throughout the crisis, keeping thousands of import and export shipments moving through what remains the country’s busiest international gateway.
To close the gap, Paircargo moved aggressively on capacity. Three temporary staging areas were added in July. The Duty Free/Columbia Complex area, made available by NNIC in agreement with BOC, was converted into a satellite processing site where cargo can be cleared on-site rather than simply stored. Most significantly, Paircargo commissioned a new satellite warehouse roughly the same size as the former NAIA International Cargo Terminal — capable of accommodating an estimated 24.24 million kilograms of cargo per month. Bureau of Customs-Ninoy Aquino International Airport extended its operating hours to 7 am–9 pm daily including weekends, and implemented 24-hour cargo releasing.
BOC-NAIA District Collector Maria Yasmin Mapa previously confirmed to PortCalls that the situation is under control, with a target of clearing all remaining backlog by end of July — timed deliberately to take advantage of August’s traditionally slower “ghost month” before cargo volumes climb again during the “ber” months.
READ: Cargo releasing at NAIA improves; backlog set for clearance by end-July
The BOC has also constituted a dedicated Technical Working Group and Task Force, chaired by Assessment and Operations Coordinating Group Deputy Commissioner Atty. Agaton Teodoro Uvero, to coordinate a whole-of-government response to cargo congestion at both Manila’s seaports and NAIA — a signal that the government views the crisis as a systemic challenge requiring structural solutions, not just emergency fixes. — Roumina Pablo
READ: Manila’s Cargo Crisis (Part 1): When Sea and Air Feel the Squeeze
Manila’s Cargo Crisis (Part 2): Capacity Crunch at the Airport
