Record cargo volume drives ATI income to Php3.7-B

March 13, 2020

Record cargo volume induced by a robust Philippine economy boosted the 2019 results of listed port operator Asian Terminals Inc. (ATI).

In a regulatory disclosure, ATI said its revenues last year increased by 8.6% to Php13.3 billion from Php12.3 billion in 2018 driven by higher international containerized cargoes handled by its gateway ports in Manila and Batangas.

Net income reached Php3.7 billion in 2019, 28.9% higher than Php2.9 billion in2018.

Double-digit cargo growth was recorded by Manila South Harbor and Batangas Container Terminal which handled a consolidated container volume of 1.61 million teus (twenty-foot equivalent units) – the highest thus far for the listed portoperator.

International boxed cargoes in Manila South Harbor reached 1.3 million teus, over 10% higher than 2018 figures. Manila South Harbor handled over 100,000 teus for nine out of the 12-month period, setting a new operations milestone, capped by nearly 124,000 teus in March.

Batangas Container Terminal, meanwhile, sustained its strong volume growth as it officially broke through the 300,000-teu mark in 2019, finishing the year with over 311,000 teus for a volume increase of over 25% compared to 2018.

Manila South Harbor and Batangas Container Terminal have effectively supported government’s drive for inclusive growth within and outside Metro Manila by continuously opening direct market connectivity and delivering competitive port services to shippers based in the country’s National Capital Region and CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal & Quezon).

Batangas Port, in particularly, has contributed in decongesting Metro Manila roads. Last year’s cargo volume meant taking out over 150,000 truck trips along metro roads, with more Calabarzon shippers preferring to route consignments via Batangas.

The capacity expansion and efficiency enhancement projects implemented by ATI in line with government’s Build-Build-Build flagship program have positioned Manila South Harbor and Batangas Container Terminal to handle more cargoes in the future.

In Manila South Harbor, its expanded container yard along Muelle de San Fancisco hasadded a static capacity of 4,500 teus.

Over in Batangas, ATI unveiled last year a bigger and smarter Batangas ContainerTerminal bannered by a 600-meter long berth and expanded container yard complemented by four quay cranes, eight rubber-tired gantry cranes and other cargo handling equipment. Capacity has increased to around 500,000 teus from 300,000 teus, annually.

Aside from these, ATI developed additional off-dockcontainer yards in Manila and Laguna to support efficient port operations,customers and industry stakeholders.