IN the Philippines, the cargo traffic volume surpassed the pre-Covid crisis levels of 2019 last year, driven by growth in both domestic and foreign cargo services, according to the latest data from the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), reports Manila's Malaya Business Insight.
The PPA data revealed that cargo throughput increased five per cent, reaching 271.9 million tonnes in 2023 compared to 259.14 tonnes in 2022.
This marked a 2.3 per cent increase from the 265.9 million tonnes cargo throughput just before the pandemic.
Domestic cargo saw a slight uptick to 98.9 million tonnes last year from 98.3 million tonnes the previous year, while foreign cargo experienced an eight per cent rise to 173.06 million tonnes from 160.8 million tonnes.
However, container traffic volume declined five per cent to 7.49 million TEU from 7.9 million TEU in 2022, as reported by the PPA.
Sea passenger volume, on the other hand, saw a significant increase of 24 per cent to 73.6 million last year from 59.2 million passengers recorded in the previous year.
Despite the growth, it remained lower than the pre-Covid crisis level of 83.7 million passengers.
PPA is actively advancing the implementation of 74 locally funded port projects nationwide, with 36 in Luzon, 19 in Visayas, and 19 in Mindanao.
These projects include the PHP902.09-million (US$16.1 million) upgrade of the general cargo berth by the Port Management Office of Davao in Sasa, the PHP886.7-million port expansion and restoration project in Currimao, Ilocos Norte, the P818.59-million Capinpin port expansion project, and the Port Management Office Bohol in Catagbacan for PHP693.56 million, among others.
Source: shippingazette