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Friday, March 29, 2024

MICT expects to handle record volume in 2nd half

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The Manila International Container Terminal, the flagship operation of global port operator International Container Terminal Services Inc., said Tuesday it is ready to handle the expected increase in cargo volume in the second half of the year.

“Yard utilization at the terminal remains optimal.  The mechanisms we developed together with the Philippine government and other stakeholders in 2014 continue to work, resulting in the easing of traffic in Metro Manila despite inadequate trade infrastructure,” said Christian Gonzalez,  senior vice president of ICTSI and head of Asia Pacific region and MICT.

MICT achieved record volume and productivity with two million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units) move last year.

The company said that as of May, yard utilization was at 61 percent or well below the 70 percent ideal percentage.  During the same month, average crane productivity hovered at 32 moves per hour.  These numbers underscore the terminal’s strong performance despite the uptick in container volume as global trade continues to rebound, it said.

“Global container traffic is slowly recovering.  As a matter of fact, Southeast Asia and North America have posted the highest average growth at seven percent during the final quarter of last year.  While we remain optimistic that this trend will continue, I am confident that we will be able to keep up with the pace and accommodate the projected increase,” Gonzales said.

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MICT achieved a milestone with its first year-to-date two millionth TEU move in 2016, triggering a multi-billion peso capacity improvement commitment with the Philippine Ports Authority that requires ICTSI to commission five neo-Panamax quay cranes, 12 reach stackers and build two new berths by 2020.  

The expansion and capacity improvement will enable MICT to service bigger ships, which is now becoming the trend in global container trade.

“We are entering the era of larger ships.  We need to adapt and stay competitive by enhancing our capabilities, which is something that we have already started,” said Gonzalez.  

MICT said as the country entered the second half of the fiscal year, volume was expected to surge, with imports starting to arrive ahead of the holiday season.  

Historical data from the PPA showed consistent MICT volume growth since 2015, with productivity and utilization staying proportionally healthy all throughout.

“Port congestion is a challenge every major and busy port in the world has to contend with.  The congestion problem in the Port of Manila in 2014 provided us with the opportunity to further improve our operations at the MICT.  We resolved the issue by putting in place new technologies that would not only upgrade the terminal, but would make MICT a sustainable business factoring in the quality of life of our hinterland communities and immediate environs.  We’ve engaged all port stakeholders in resolving the issue,” said Gonzalez.

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