ATI sees favorable year for its PH ports

Asian Terminals Inc. (ATI) said a bright outlook for 2019 and beyond demonstrates the realization of its effective strategy in the Manila and Batangas terminals, complemented by strong economic growth.

ATI Chairman Andrew Hoad said operating with the positive economic backdrop, ATI sustained its growth momentum last year, delivering another record overall performance.

Hoad said for the seventh straight year, the economy grew by over 6 percent, driven by robust private sector spending, steady overseas remittances and government expenditures on various infrastructure projects.

As a trade enabler and operator of strategic economic gateways, ATI delivered its strongest results, bannered by revenues amounting to P12.3 billion, 15.8 percent higher than P10.7 billion in 2017. By year-end, net income reached P2.9 billion, or 15.9 percent higher than P2.5 billion previously.

“Inspired by these achievements and driven by our vision for growth, we can confidently say that the future looks bright for ATI,” Hoad said during the recent stockholders meeting.

For the first time in over 30 years, ATI handled its highest consolidated container throughput at over 1.47 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), representing a 10 percent growth compared to 2017 figures.

“While Manila South Harbor contributed majority of the volume at over 1.18 million TEUs, it was our Batangas Container Terminal which grew fastest with volume increasing by over 25 percent to nearly 250,000 TEUs,” Hoad said,

Passenger and international roll-on/roll-off volume in Batangas remained bullish, reaching a record 4.1 million passengers and over 160,000 completely built car units (CBUs). CBUs now have a new home in Batangas with the modern multilevel carpark, which was inaugurated last year.

“These record figures speak volumes about our effective strategy of operating complementary terminals in Manila and Batangas which keep goods flowing in Metro Manila and Southern Luzon, respectively. More importantly, our company booked these achievements, while operating safely and efficiently, following global standards,” he said.

Year-on-year, ATI has ended with a stronger balance sheet and robust cash flows, backed by its operational discipline, diligent cost management efforts and the careful execution of its business plans.

“This puts us on a solid financial footing to further expand our port facilities, target emerging local and international opportunities, and pursue innovation projects to better serve our customers and further grow value for our stockholders,” he said.

For years 2019 to 2020, ATI would be spending approximately P14.7 billion to pursue its growth strategy which would support the on-going berth and yard expansion projects in Manila South Harbor to bring capacity to over 1.5 million TEUs, annually.

“We are also constructing new cargo storage facilities outside our main terminals to support industry growth. Just recently, we have upgraded our Batangas Container
Terminal, which is now equipped with more berths, four quay cranes, eight yard cranes and other container handling equipment, effectively increasing its capacity to over 450,000 TEUs,” Hoad said.

Reginald Rivera, ATI marketing manager said by 2020, the Manila South Harbor container capacity would increase to 1.9 million TEUs annually or a port capacity of 48,000 to 50,000 TEUs at any given time.

ATI will continuously optimize its ports in Manila and Batangas for containerized cargo, noncontainerized cargo and passenger handling, keeping these vital gateways competitive to customer needs and responsive to market demand.

At the core of this, is ATI’s programmed capital investments worth P 9.0 billion for 2019, in line with its investment commitment with the Philippine Ports Authority. This will be invested in the acquisition of more cargo handling equipment and various infrastructure projects at Manila South Harbor and Batangas Port, to further grow capacity, increase efficiency and enhance safety performance, in support of the growing Philippine economy.

ATI has kept its eyes peeled for more business growth drivers, including developing additional cargo storage spaces within and outside the port zones, offering ancillary services leveraged on its core ports business and exploring new port operations locally or overseas, given the right opportunity.

ATI, combined with the global leadership of its strategic foreign shareholder DP World, would continue to leverage its resources, expertise and management capabilities to bring its competencies where growth potential is high and where it could add greater value to its shareholders.
Source: Manila Times