Ports

Manila Port Strike Looms as Empty Container Backlog Spirals Out of Control

Truckers and customs brokers in Manila launched a coordinated work stoppage as a year-long dispute over carrier empties reached a breaking point. The Practicing Customs Brokers and Port Truckers Alliance announced a three-day strike, with chair Reynaldo Soliman warning the action could extend to a week. Thousands of empty containers scattered across terminals and trucking yards remain stranded, with just 10 percent of volumes clearing the port. Hapag-Lloyd suspended bookings due to the disruption. The Bureau of Customs demanded that port operators address containers sitting idle for more than 10 days. Yard utilization levels at Manila International Container Port and the port of Manila have hampered cargo movement and reduced terminal capacity. Truckers face acute pressure with no access to space for empties. The Confederation of Truckers Association of the Philippines cited operational gridlock as carriers failed to remove their equipment.