International Cargo Seaport: Port of Manila

The Port of Manila serves as the primary international shipping gateway for the Philippines. It is run by a government company named Philippine Ports Authority, which manages other public ports in the country. As the largest port in the Philippines, the port enjoys dense traffic annually, with approximately 21,000 vessels and over 75 million tons of cargo tonnage.

About Port of Manila

The Port spans along the eastern coasts of Manila Bay, downstream of Pasig River in the western Luzon Island. The closest ports include the Port of Hong Kong (645 nautical miles) and Saigon Port (880 nautical miles). More than just a port that manages traffic around Metropolitan Manila, this port becomes the center of political, cultural, and economic. Metropolitan Manila is a huge area that contains 17 cities and municipalities.

The History

Manila Bay trading activities had started in the 9th or 12th centuries, starting with the country’s closest neighbors, such as China, Japan, India, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Local historians believe that the port was a part of Ancient Tondo, one of the oldest kingdoms in the old Philippines.

It saw major development under Spanish colonies, where their trade reach expanded as far as Spain via Mexico. The port continued to grow during the American Colonial Era of the Philippines and after the Philippines independence.

Volume of Transaction in Port of Manila

The port owns 12 piers and berths capable of housing 22 ships; all of them handle about 21,000 vessels with over 75,000 tons tonnage. Throughout the pandemic year of 2020, the port sees a 13.5% rise in cargo volume to 230.43 MMT.

Port of Manila is part of the Maritime Silk Road, which stretches from Chinese shores to the Mediterranean, passing through Singapore to India—all the way to the Suez Canal to Central and Eastern Europe.

Interesting Facts

As the backbone of the Philippines’ economy, the Port of Manila has many supporting facilities to make trading and other activities flow smoothly on a daily basis. Despite being located on the coastline, the port is considerably easy to reach, with many transportation options available.

Manila also had a number of tourism destinations, such as the Chinatown in Birondo district—one of the largest and oldest of its kind around the world. The city attracts plenty of international tourists as well, with almost a million visits every year.

There is a unique trivia about Manila, where the port is located. Filipino called the city “Maynilà,” which literally means “where indigo is found.” In fact, indigo was a leading export of the Philippines in the past. Manila Bay was also where the Battle of Manila took place.

In addition to serving as the major seaport for the country, the Port of Manila also has a vital role in publishing and manufacturing. Local businesses thrive there and employ most of the residents too.

Today, Manila has become one of the most densely populated cities globally, with more than 9.9 million residents. Among those numbers, 1.6 million live in the area of the Port of Manila.