PHILIPPINE ports moved 154.03 million metric tons (MT) of cargo in the first six months of 2026, anchored by resilient foreign trade and rising export volumes, according to the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).
Foreign shipments made up 63.6 percent of total cargo at 97.94 million MT, boosted by 42.06 million MT in outward foreign freight. Domestic cargo reached 56.10 million MT, pointing to steady demand across domestic trade routes.
Container traffic across PPA-monitored terminals stood at 4.30 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) over the six-month period. Main trade gateways in Manila and Northern Luzon continued to handle the vast majority of international box traffic, clearing 2.29 million TEUs in foreign container cargo, or 81.8 percent of the national foreign total of 2.80 million TEUs.
The Visayas maritime network remained the principal corridor for domestic passenger travel and inter-island freight. The region recorded 165,704 ship calls, slightly over half of the 331,065 vessel arrivals logged nationwide, while moving 22.62 million passengers and 2.67 million roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) vehicles.
In Mindanao, terminals across the northern and southern sectors handled a combined 40.51 million MT, driven largely by agricultural and industrial bulk commodities. Northern Mindanao shifted heavily toward outbound trade, shipping 13.71 million MT in foreign exports compared to 3.72 million MT in incoming foreign goods.
Nationwide vessel arrivals totaled 325,381 domestic calls and 5,624 foreign calls during the period. Terminal management companies are directing resources toward berth efficiency, logistics connections, and infrastructure expansion to manage shifting trade corridors in the second half of the year.
