The Manila International Container Terminal (MICT), the flagship operation of global port operator International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), is gearing up for peak season after it achieved below target results.
Yard utilization at MICT, the Philippines' busiest, most modern, and largest container terminal, was 9% below its 70% 'ideal' target for May 2017.
As the country enters the second half of the fiscal year, volume is expected to surge, with imports starting to arrive ahead of the holiday season.
Christian R. Gonzalez, ICTSI Senior Vice President and Head of Asia Pacific region and MICT, 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.”
Last year, the MICT achieved a milestone with its first year-to-date two millionth TEU move, triggering a multi-billion peso capacity improvement commitment with the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) 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 the MICT to service bigger ships, which is now becoming the trend in global container trade.
Gonzalez added: “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.”
