SBMA port operations revenue climbs 20% in first quarter of 2026

OLONGAPO CITY — The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) reported on Monday a 20 percent increase in revenue from port operations in the first quarter of 2026, reaching P389 million from P324 million in the same period last year.

SBMA Senior Deputy Administrator for Port Operations Ronnie Yambao said the Seaport Department accounted for the bulk of collections at P302 million, followed by the Airport Department with P50 million and the Trade Facilitation and Compliance Department (TFCD) with P36 million.

Yambao attributed the growth in seaport earnings to higher vessel and cargo charges, which rose by 31 percent alongside a 20 percent increase in ship calls.

Article continues after this advertisement

READ: SBMA cuts port, cargo fees to aid traders amid oil crisis

FEATURED STORIES

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

The Port of Subic recorded 463 ship calls from both foreign and domestic vessels. Of these, 171 were bulk and break-bulk vessels, marking a 29 percent increase, while liquid bulk port calls rose 18 percent to 159.

He added that SBMA’s share from pilotage services grew by 20 percent, while tugboat services posted a sharp 75 percent increase in revenues.

Wharfage fees also increased by 24 percent, supported by a 3 percent rise in containerized cargo volume. Imports grew by 5 percent, equivalent to 28,070 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), with shipments mainly consisting of food products from Ecossential Foods Corp. and rubber products from Yokohama Tires Philippines Inc.

Export volumes also expanded significantly by 31 percent to 15,757 TEUs, driven by DSV Air and Sea Inc. and Yokohama Tires Philippines Inc.

Article continues after this advertisement

Non-containerized cargo likewise posted strong growth of 30 percent, fueled by a 47 percent increase in bulk and break-bulk shipments.

Key commodities included rice, which surged by 331 percent, corn by 571 percent, soybeans by 15 percent, wheat by 16 percent, and liquid bulk petroleum products by 11 percent.

Article continues after this advertisement

Revenues from cargo handling services also rose by 22 percent, largely contributed by Amerasia International Terminal Services Inc., Mega Subic Terminal Services Inc., and Subic Bay Freeport Grain Terminal Services Inc., Yambao said.

READ: SBMA records P1.77-billion port revenue in 2025

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.

Your subscription has been successful.

The Port of Subic Bay remains one of the country’s major deep-water gateways, operating within a tax-and-duty-free zone and serving as a strategic alternative to the congested Port of Manila./coa