The Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) handled 3 million twenty-foot equivalent units in 2025, marking the first time the facility reached that level in a single year, the terminal operator said Monday.
The record-breaking container was processed on Dec. 22 during the servicing of the Ever Bliss, an Evergreen Marine Corp. vessel carrying cargo for Universal Robina Corp.
MICT chief executive Christian Lozano said the milestone reflects the terminal’s ability to manage higher volumes while maintaining service standards during the peak season.
Handling 3 million containers shows how the terminal has kept pace with rising demand through continued operational improvements and capacity expansion, Lozano said.
He said the priority remains delivering consistent service and ensuring cargo moves reliably as volumes grow.
The volume increase followed sustained investments in equipment and infrastructure throughout the year. The terminal deployed hybrid rubber-tired gantry cranes and additional terminal tractors to support throughput.
As part of its modernization program, the operator also began exploring the use of electric terminal tractors.
Construction is progressing on an 8th berth, which features a 300-meter quay and a 12-hectare yard development, the company said.
While 6.5 hectares are already operational, the completed berth will feature a 15-meter depth capable of accommodating vessels with 18,000-container capacities. Three new quay cranes are scheduled for delivery in 2027.
Once the expansion is finished, the annual handling capacity of the terminal is expected to rise to 3.5 million containers. The facility accounts for about 70 percent of Manila port volumes and serves as the primary international gateway for the Philippines.
International Container Terminal Services Inc. has operated the terminal since winning a concession in 1988. Since the takeover, the company has increased annual capacity five-fold and transitioned from manual controls to an integrated real-time IT system.
