Ports regulator forecasts stronger cargo, passenger volumes in 2026

THE Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) said it is projecting stronger growth in cargo and passenger traffic this year, driven by investments in port efficiency.

The forecast reflects “continued investments in port modernization, operational efficiency, and service excellence,” PPA General Manager Jay Daniel R. Santiago told BusinessWorld.

For 2026, the PPA said it is expecting cargo volume to come in 4.03% stronger at 320.94 million metric tons, driven mainly by higher foreign cargo shipments.

The PPA said foreign cargo volume is expected to rise 4.28% to 202.73 million metric tons in 2025. Domestic cargo volume is seen rising 3.61% to 118.22 million metric tons.

“We remain focused on delivering measurable results that translate to safer, more reliable, and more accessible port services,” Mr. Santiago said.

Container throughput is forecast to increase 3.94% to 8.88 million twenty-foot equivalent units.

For this year, passenger traffic is expected to grow 5.78% to 87.26 million, the PPA said, after logging 82.49 million passengers in the first 11 months of 2025.

PPA logged a record of 6.28 million passengers during the Christmas and New Year travel season, the highest volume since its establishment in 1974. The surge was logged between Dec. 15, 2025 and Jan. 5, 2026.

About 12 ports are set to be privatized in 2026, the PPA added.

In 2024, the PPA said it earmarked up to P16 billion for infrastructure projects until 2028. The funds will go towards enhancing port efficiency and capacity, including 14 big-ticket projects targeted for completion within the period. — Ashley Erika O. Jose