TIM eMagazine Volume 2 Issue 3 | Page 14

Maritime

Strong trade via Manila , Batangas ports lifts ATI Q1 results

Higher cargo volumes flowing through Batangas takes traffic off the roads in Metro Manila , in support of government ’ s goal of decongesting major cities and spurring countryside growth .

T he strong trade volumes handled by Manila South Harbor and Batangas Port , reflective of growing imports and exports by metro- and Calabarzon-based ( Cavite , Laguna , Batangas , Rizal and Quezon ) companies , have lifted Asian Terminals Inc .’ s ( ATI ) first quarter results .

After handling a record one million teus ( twenty-foot equivalent units ) in 2016 , Manila South Harbor sustained its momentum into the first three months of 2017 , delivering over 200,000 teus of foreign container boxes into Metro Manila , the country ’ s main consumer market . This equals its first quarter volume in 2016 .
Batangas Container Terminal ( BCT ), meanwhile , continued to expand its role as trade facilitator in Calabarzon , handling over 40,000 teus during the quarter , over 30 % higher compared to the same period in 2016 .
Higher cargo volumes flowing through Batangas takes traffic off the roads in Metro Manila , in support of government ’ s goal of decongesting major cities and spurring countryside growth .
In 2016 , BCT handled nearly 160,000 teus , its highest container throughput since 2010 . More importantly , this helped reduce over 80,000 trucks trips along Metro Manila ’ s roads with more shippers opting to route commodities via Batangas instead of Manila .
Driven by strong volumes , the listed company ended first quarter with a net income of Php490.5 million , 28.4 % higher from Php382.1 million during the same period last year . Revenues for the three month period reached Php2.31 billion , representing a 17.5 % growth on 2016 ’ s Php1.97 billion .
ATI earlier said that is investing a minimum of Php4.6 billion this year to further increase operational capacity , efficiency and safety at Manila and Batangas ports in support of the country ’ s growing economy .
Batangas Port

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