Asian Terminals wins 25-year Manila South Harbour renewal

Asian Terminals has secured a 25-year renewal of its concession to operate and develop Manila South Harbour, extending its tenure at the Philippine port from May 2038 to May 2063.

Signed with the Philippine Ports Authority, the agreement covers one of the country's main international trade gateways. It gives the port operator and its strategic partner, DP World, more time to carry out planned investment in the facility.

Manila South Harbour is central to container and cargo flows in the Philippines, and the renewal comes as ATI marks 40 years of operations. The new term is expected to support further modernisation of the port as trade patterns shift and cargo volumes rise.

Planned work includes expanding capacity, introducing more energy-efficient cargo-handling equipment, increasing automation, and adopting digital systems across port and logistics operations. ATI and DP World said these steps are intended to meet the needs of shipping lines, importers, exporters, and other logistics users.

ATI has invested more than Php42 billion in its Philippine port facilities over the past four decades. Across its operations, it has handled about 30 million twenty-foot equivalent units of containers, 57 million metric tons of non-containerised cargo, and 70 million passengers.

The deal also reinforces DP World's long-term presence in the Philippines through its partnership with ATI. The Dubai-based ports and logistics group has described the country as an important market in regional and global trade, with Manila South Harbour a key part of that network.

Essa Kazim, Executive Chairman of DP World, said: "The Philippines has significant long-term growth potential and an important role to play in regional and global trade. Realising that potential requires sustained investment in world-class infrastructure that strengthens competitiveness and connects businesses to international markets. This concession renewal provides the certainty needed to plan and invest for decades ahead. It reflects DP World's belief in the Philippines' economic future and our commitment to building enduring partnerships that enable trade and support sustainable growth."

The renewed concession gives ATI a clearer basis for long-cycle infrastructure planning in a port sector where expansion and equipment upgrades can take years to deliver. It also comes as operators across Asia face pressure to raise efficiency, improve environmental performance, and handle larger and more complex cargo flows.

For the Philippines, port capacity remains a significant trade issue, particularly in Metro Manila, where congestion and land constraints have shaped logistics planning for years. Improvements at Manila South Harbour could affect the movement of both containerised and breakbulk cargo through the capital.

Jason Varsamidis, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of DP World Asia Pacific, said: "The renewal of the Manila South Harbour concession is a strong endorsement of ATI's track record and the long-term partnership it has built with the Philippine Ports Authority. Over four decades, ATI has played an important role in developing the infrastructure that supports Philippine trade, and this agreement provides the foundation to build on that legacy. As ATI's partner, our focus is now on the next phase of ATI's development, including investment in capacity, technology, and more sustainable operations to ensure Manila South Harbour remains competitive, efficient, and responsive to the evolving needs of customers."