Record volume, efficient ops drive strong ATI results in H1

August 14, 2019

Record cargo volume handled by its gateway ports in Manila and Batangas, sustained by port efficiency measures in collaboration with industry stakeholders, delivered strong results for port operator Asian Terminals Inc. (ATI) in the first half of 2019.

In a regulatory disclosure on Wednesday, ATI said that its revenues rose by 23.5 percent to Php7.04 billion from January to June this year compared to Php5.70 billion in the same period of 2018, driven by higher international containerized cargoes handled by Manila South Harbor (MSH) and Batangas Container Terminal (BCT).

ATI reported a net income of Php2.14 billion for the six-month period, 53 percent higher than last year’s Php1.40 billion.

From January to June, MSH handled nearly 650,000 teus (twenty-foot equivalent units) of international boxed cargoes, a new mid-year record for the port and higher by over 15 percent compared to the first half of 2018.

Over in Batangas, BCT continued to expand its role in enabling trade in Southern Luzon and helping reduce road traffic along metro roads, following the completion of its major terminal upgrade early this year.

With a bigger terminal footprint complemented by four quay cranes, eight rubber-tired gantry cranes and other modern equipment, BCT facilitated the delivery of over 160,000 teus of foreign boxed cargoes for industries in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon). This is higher by over 45 percent than its mid-year cargo volume last year, setting BCT on pace of surpassing 2018’s full-year throughput of nearly 250,000 teus.

ATI also attributed its record cargo volume to port efficiency measures implemented in collaboration with customers, port authorities and other stakeholders.

In February, ATI and major international shipping lines entered into a terminal and vessel resource sharing agreement, called the Empty Loadout Shipping Alliance (ELSA), which since paved the way for the immediate evacuation of empties from Metro Manila and nearby environs via MSH.

To date, nine ELSA-participating shipping lines regularly pullout more than 10,000 teus of empty containers from MSH for recirculation to other Asian destinations on a weekly basis, effectively managing the build-up of empty containers in the supply chain.

ATI also continuously transfers Customs-cleared overstaying boxes from MSH to its Sta. Mesa container yard, following the directives of the Philippine Ports Authority. This has contributed to optimized yard space and overall terminal efficiency.