ATI embarks on support businesses for ports

Listed Asian Terminals Inc. (ATI) is looking at developing related businesses to support the growth of its international gateway ports in Manila and Batangas.

The company, in a statement, said these included off-dock container yards, empty container depots and ancillary facilities.

“As a trade enabler, we are eyeing to develop more facilities that will leverage on our existing gateway ports in Manila and Batangas to better serve our valued customers,” said ATI executive vice president William Khoury.

“These projects will establish greater operational synergies to help the industry cope with current logistics challenges and also create growth opportunities in the long term,” he added.

ATI said it expected to have additional capacity for empty containers by mid-year.

Aside from Manila South Harbor and Batangas Container Terminal, international gateway ports serving Metro Manila and Southern Luzon, respectively, ATI also operates an Inland Clearance Depot (ICD) in Calamba, Laguna.

ATI’s ICD is a customs-bonded facility, located beside the South Luzon Expressway in Barangay Mayapa, Calamba. ATI wants to position the facility as a key supply chain partner for major manufacturers and industrial zones located in Cavite, Laguna and Batangas.

The facility can be used to consolidate logistics requirements from handling containers, to trucking, storage, brokerage, customs-clearing and other ancillary services.

“With its operational connectivity to ATI’s ports, ICD essentially delivers cargoes straight from the port to the manufacturers’ doorsteps, making it an ideal one-stop-shop partner for just-in-time production cycles. Customs-cleared containers stored at ICD can quickly be deployed to nearby factories, with franchise trucks on stand-by 24/7,” ATI said.

ATI operates a two-hectare yard in Sta. Mesa, Manila, which supports the operations of Manila South Harbor.—MIGUEL R. CAMUS