Philippine cargo throughput grew 1.45% in the first seven months of the year, thanks to the strong performance of domestic containerized cargo.
According to latest data from the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), cargo volume from January to July reached 97.844 million metric tons (mmt) from 96.44 mmt in the same period last year (see table).
Much of the growth was delivered by North Harbor, and the ports of Puerto Princesa, Pulupandan, Tagbilaran, Surigao, and Davao following strong imports and exports of feeds, fruits, grains, metal ores/scraps, crude minerals, paper products, among others.
Total domestic cargoes hit 42.107 mmt for the period in review, up 2.56% from last year’s 41.057 mmt.
Foreign cargoes reached 55.737 mmt or 0.63% higher than 55.386 mmt last year. Of these, imported cargoes accounted for 30.980 mmt, down 6.48% from 33.128 mmt; and export cargoes, 24.756 mmt from 22.257 mmt.
Containerized cargo volume totaled 2.718 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), up 14.03% from 2.384 million TEUs registered in the same period last year.
Domestic containerized cargo saw a 26.17% increase to 1.071 million TEUs from 849,181 TEUs.
Foreign box cargo rose 7.32% to 1.647 million TEUs from 1.535 million TEUs. Import containers jumped 6.9% to 817,985 TEUs from 765,214 TEUs; export containers totaled 829,341, an improvement of 7.74% from 769,788 TEUs last year.
North Port handled the most domestic containerized cargo with 438,420 TEUs while Manila International Container Terminal was tops in the foreign sector with 792,042 TEUs followed by South Harbor with 551,044 TEUs.
Ship calls for the period in review dropped 2.94% to 196,142 from 202,077. The number of domestic vessels also decreased 3.09% while foreign vessels rose 2.12%. Increases were noted in the ports of Pulupandan, Puerto Princesa, Cagayan de Oro and Tacloban.
Passenger volume reached 29.79 million, slipping 2.46% from last year due to travelers’ preference for air instead of water transportation, and stoppage of operations of some ferry vessels and cancellation of trips due to rough seas brought about by inclement weather. Among ports that posted positive passenger traffic were Legazpi, Puerto Princesa, Pulupandan, Tacloban, Tagbilaran, Nasipit, Dapitan and General Santos.
Cargo Traffic for January-July 2011
Jan-July Inc/(Dec)
2011 2010 Volume %
Cargo (mmt) 97,844,892 96,443,312 1,401,580 1.45
Domestic 42,107,578 41,057,289 1,050,289 2.56
Foreign 55,737,314 55,386,023 351,291 0.63
Import 30,980,331 33,128,486 (2,148,155) (6.48)
Export 24,756,983 22,257,537 2,499,446 11.23
Container (in TEUs) 2,718,765 2,384,183 334,582 14.03
Domestic 1,071,439 849,181 112,324 7.32
Foreign 1,647,326 1,535,002 112,324 7.32
Import 817,985 765,214 52,771 6.90
Export 829,341 769,788 59,553 7.74
Passenger (millions) 29,791,443 30,543,026 (751,583) (2.46)
Domestic 29,760,571 30,500,159 (739,588) (2.42)
Foreign 30,872 42,867 (11,995) (27.96)
Shipcalls 196,142 30,543,026 (751,583) (2.46)
Domestic 29,760,571 196,132 6,061 (3.09)
Foreign 6,071 5,945 126 2.12
Source: Philippine Ports Authority
Photo by Kevin