State-run Philippine Ports Authority said Wednesday cargo volume rose 9 percent in the first nine months from a year ago, boosted by strong international trade.
Data from PPA showed that cargo throughput reached 183.730 million metric tons in January to September, up from 168.074 million MT registered in the same period last year.
Foreign volume grew 12.7 percent in traffic anchored on the 15-percent increase in export volume, from 47.945 million MT in 2015 to 55.134 million MT this year.
Import volume posted a 10.75 percent increase from 55.490 million MT to 61.459 million MT.
“This is a great indication that Philippine exporters are gearing up to compete in the international market and would not be left out in the run-up to Christmas,” said PPA general manager Jay Daniel Santiago.
Domestic volume posted a modest growth of 3.9 percent to 67.139 million MT from 64.638 million MT last year