Major Sea Ports in Philippines

The Philippines is an archipelagic country located in Southeast Asia, consisting of more than 7,000 islands. It is bounded by the Philippine Sea to the east, the South China Sea to the west, and the Celebes Sea to the southwest. The country has various types of ports due to its extensive coastline and numerous islands:

  1. Sea Ports: The Philippines has numerous sea ports scattered across its islands, serving as vital hubs for maritime trade and transportation. Major sea ports include:
    • Port of Manila: Located in the capital city of Manila, this port is the largest and busiest in the Philippines. It handles a wide range of cargo, including containers, bulk cargo, and petroleum products.
    • Port of Cebu: Situated in the city of Cebu, this port is the second-largest in the Philippines and serves as a key hub for trade and passenger traffic in the Visayas region.
    • Port of Davao: Located in the city of Davao, this port is the largest in Mindanao and plays a significant role in facilitating trade in the southern Philippines.
  2. River Ports: While the Philippines has rivers, they are generally not extensively navigable for significant distances, and river ports are not prominent in the country’s transportation infrastructure. The focus is primarily on sea ports due to the archipelagic nature of the country.
  3. Inland Terminals: Inland terminals in the Philippines serve as important nodes in the country’s transportation network, facilitating the movement of goods within the country and to neighboring regions. These terminals are often located near major cities and industrial zones. Examples include:
    • Batangas International Port: Located in Batangas City, this inland terminal serves as a key logistics hub for the distribution of goods in the Calabarzon region.
    • Subic Bay Freeport Zone: Situated in Zambales, the Subic Bay Freeport Zone is a former US naval base that has been converted into a free trade zone, providing facilities for warehousing, manufacturing, and distribution.
  4. Border Crossings: The Philippines has several border crossings with neighboring countries, facilitating land-based trade and transportation. Major border crossings include:
    • BIMP-EAGA Bridge: This proposed bridge will link the Philippines with Malaysia and Indonesia, enhancing connectivity and trade within the BIMP-EAGA (Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area) subregion.
    • Sulu-Sulawesi Sea Corridor: This maritime corridor connects the Philippines with Indonesia, providing a vital trade route for goods and people between the two countries.

List of Largest Ports in Philippines

Port Name Type of Cargo Ships Monthly Arrivals
Manila Container, Bulk, Ro-Ro 500
Batangas Container, Bulk, Ro-Ro 300
Subic Container, Bulk, Ro-Ro 250
Cebu Container, Bulk, Ro-Ro 200
Davao Container, Bulk, Ro-Ro 150
General Santos Container, Bulk, Ro-Ro 120
Iloilo Container, Bulk, Ro-Ro 100
Zamboanga Container, Bulk, Ro-Ro 80
Cagayan de Oro Container, Bulk, Ro-Ro 70
Bacolod Container, Bulk, Ro-Ro 60
Puerto Princesa Container, Bulk, Ro-Ro 50
Iligan Container, Bulk, Ro-Ro 40
Surigao Container, Bulk, Ro-Ro 30
Legazpi Container, Bulk, Ro-Ro 25
Tacloban Container, Bulk, Ro-Ro 20

Major Ports of Philippines

1. Port of Manila

The Port of Manila is the largest and busiest port in the Philippines, handling the majority of the country’s international trade. Situated in the capital city of Manila, it serves as the primary gateway for cargo entering and leaving the country. The port handles various types of cargo, including containerized cargo, bulk goods, and break-bulk cargo. Its strategic location along the western coast of Luzon, near major international shipping routes, has made it a key hub for regional and international trade in Southeast Asia.

City Location: Manila, Philippines
Latitude: 14.5995° N
Longitude: 120.9842° E

Nearby Cities and Road Connections:

City Distance (km) Road Connection
Quezon City 10 Quezon City Circle Road
Makati City 7 EDSA
Pasay City 5 Roxas Blvd
Caloocan 15 Epifanio de los Santos Ave
Taguig City 15 C5 Road
Las Piñas 18 Alabang-Zapote Road
Valenzuela 25 MacArthur Highway

Nearby Railway Stations:

  1. Manila Railway Station (Philippines)
  2. Pasay Railway Station (Philippines)
  3. Caloocan Railway Station (Philippines)
  4. Quezon City Railway Station (Philippines)
  5. Makati Railway Station (Philippines)

2. Port of Cebu

Located in the Visayas region, the Port of Cebu is one of the busiest ports in the Philippines and is crucial for trade in the central and southern parts of the country. Cebu is a hub for both passenger and cargo vessels, making it an important center for tourism and regional commerce. The port handles a variety of goods, including agricultural products, electronics, and raw materials. It is also a gateway for goods moving between the Philippines and other countries in Asia.

City Location: Cebu City, Philippines
Latitude: 10.3157° N
Longitude: 123.8854° E

Nearby Cities and Road Connections:

City Distance (km) Road Connection
Mandaue City 8 Mandaue North Road
Talisay 10 Cebu South Road
Lapu-Lapu City 15 Marcelo Fernan Bridge
Danao City 45 National Road
Toledo City 50 Toledo City Road
Liloan 20 North Road
Carcar City 45 South Road

Nearby Railway Stations:

  1. Cebu Railway Station (Philippines)
  2. Mandaue Railway Station (Philippines)
  3. Lapu-Lapu Railway Station (Philippines)
  4. Danao Railway Station (Philippines)
  5. Talisay Railway Station (Philippines)

3. Port of Davao

Located on Mindanao Island, the Port of Davao is a key gateway for international and domestic trade in southern Philippines. It is one of the largest ports in the country and handles a wide range of cargo, including agricultural products, particularly bananas and pineapples, as well as bulk goods like coal and petroleum. Davao’s location on the southern tip of the island makes it an important hub for trade with neighboring countries, including Indonesia and Malaysia.

City Location: Davao City, Philippines
Latitude: 7.1907° N
Longitude: 125.4553° E

Nearby Cities and Road Connections:

City Distance (km) Road Connection
Tagum 50 Davao-Tagum Road
Mati 180 Mati-Davao Road
Panabo 25 Davao-Panabo Road
Samal 30 Samal Island Road
Kidapawan 120 Davao-Kidapawan Road
Cagayan de Oro 250 MacArthur Highway
General Santos City 140 General Santos Road

Nearby Railway Stations:

  1. Davao Railway Station (Philippines)
  2. Tagum Railway Station (Philippines)
  3. Mati Railway Station (Philippines)
  4. Cagayan de Oro Railway Station (Philippines)
  5. Panabo Railway Station (Philippines)

4. Port of Batangas

Batangas Port, located on the southwestern coast of Luzon, is one of the busiest ports in the Philippines for both cargo and passenger traffic. The port is a crucial hub for goods moving between Manila and the southern provinces. Batangas Port is a major transshipment point, handling various types of cargo, including raw materials, agricultural products, and manufactured goods. It is also a key departure point for ferries traveling to the nearby islands of Mindoro, Marinduque, and other destinations.

City Location: Batangas City, Philippines
Latitude: 13.7593° N
Longitude: 121.0583° E

Nearby Cities and Road Connections:

City Distance (km) Road Connection
Lipa 35 Batangas-Lipa Road
Calabarzon 50 Southern Tagalog Arterial Road
Tanauan 30 Tanauan-Batangas Road
Bauang 25 Bauang-Batangas Road
Nasugbu 75 Nasugbu-Batangas Road
Manila 110 South Luzon Expressway
Tagaytay 70 Tagaytay-Batangas Road

Nearby Railway Stations:

  1. Batangas Railway Station (Philippines)
  2. Lipa Railway Station (Philippines)
  3. Tanauan Railway Station (Philippines)
  4. Calabarzon Railway Station (Philippines)
  5. Tagaytay Railway Station (Philippines)

5. Port of Iloilo

The Port of Iloilo is located on the island of Panay and is a major seaport for the Visayas region. It serves as the principal gateway for the export of agricultural products such as sugar, rice, and coconut oil, as well as bulk goods like coal and cement. Iloilo’s proximity to the major trading areas in the Visayas and its modern port facilities have made it an important hub for regional trade.

City Location: Iloilo City, Philippines
Latitude: 10.7202° N
Longitude: 122.5610° E

Nearby Cities and Road Connections:

City Distance (km) Road Connection
Guimaras 15 Guimaras-Iloilo Road
Passi 35 Passi-Iloilo Road
Roxas City 120 Panay Road
Kalibo 150 Kalibo-Iloilo Road
Bacolod 100 Bacolod-Iloilo Road
Antique 180 Panay Road
Capiz 130 Panay Road

Nearby Railway Stations:

  1. Iloilo Railway Station (Philippines)
  2. Guimaras Railway Station (Philippines)
  3. Roxas Railway Station (Philippines)
  4. Bacolod Railway Station (Philippines)
  5. Passi Railway Station (Philippines)

6. Port of Zamboanga

Located on the island of Mindanao, Zamboanga is a major port for the export of agricultural and fishing products, including tuna, copra, and shrimp. The port serves as a hub for trade with other parts of Mindanao and the nearby Sulu Archipelago. Zamboanga Port is one of the busiest in southern Philippines and handles various cargo, including general cargo, containerized goods, and bulk commodities.

City Location: Zamboanga City, Philippines
Latitude: 6.9200° N
Longitude: 122.0785° E

Nearby Cities and Road Connections:

City Distance (km) Road Connection
Pagadian 150 Pagadian-Zamboanga Road
Dipolog 230 Dipolog-Zamboanga Road
Ipil 150 Ipil-Zamboanga Road
Dapitan 200 Dapitan-Zamboanga Road
Manila 1,200 National Highway 1
Cagayan de Oro 480 Cagayan de Oro-Zamboanga Road
Cotabato City 530 Cotabato-Zamboanga Road

Nearby Railway Stations:

  1. Zamboanga Railway Station (Philippines)
  2. Pagadian Railway Station (Philippines)
  3. Dipolog Railway Station (Philippines)
  4. Ipil Railway Station (Philippines)
  5. Cagayan de Oro Railway Station (Philippines)

7. Port of General Santos

Located on the southern coast of Mindanao, the Port of General Santos is one of the busiest ports for fishing products, particularly tuna. General Santos is considered the “Tuna Capital” of the Philippines and handles a significant amount of the country’s tuna exports. The port is also a key gateway for agricultural exports such as coconut and corn. The city’s location along major shipping routes makes it an important hub for trade in the southern Philippines.

City Location: General Santos, Philippines
Latitude: 6.1160° N
Longitude: 125.1850° E

Nearby Cities and Road Connections:

City Distance (km) Road Connection
Davao City 130 General Santos-Davao Road
Koronadal 55 National Highway 1
Cotabato City 250 National Highway 1
Cotabato City 250 Cotabato-General Santos Road
Surallah 40 National Highway 1
General Santos City 0 General Santos Road
Tupi 25 National Highway 1

Nearby Railway Stations:

  1. General Santos Railway Station (Philippines)
  2. Davao Railway Station (Philippines)
  3. Koronadal Railway Station (Philippines)
  4. Cotabato Railway Station (Philippines)
  5. Surallah Railway Station (Philippines)

8. Port of Puerto Princesa

Puerto Princesa, located on Palawan Island, is a vital port for the western Philippines. The port handles exports including fish, timber, and other agricultural products. Puerto Princesa serves as a key entry point for goods traveling to Palawan and the surrounding islands. Its proximity to both the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea makes it a strategic port for trade.

City Location: Puerto Princesa, Philippines
Latitude: 9.7400° N
Longitude: 118.7380° E

Nearby Cities and Road Connections:

City Distance (km) Road Connection
El Nido 230 National Highway
Narra 150 National Highway
Roxas 230 National Highway
Taytay 180 National Highway
Puerto Princesa 0 National Highway
Quezon City 1,050 National Highway
Sabang 60 National Highway

Nearby Railway Stations:

  1. Puerto Princesa Railway Station (Philippines)
  2. Roxas Railway Station (Philippines)
  3. El Nido Railway Station (Philippines)
  4. Narra Railway Station (Philippines)
  5. Sabang Railway Station (Philippines)

9. Port of Surigao

Surigao is located on the northeastern tip of Mindanao, and its port is an important gateway for trade with neighboring islands. The port is known for exporting agricultural products such as coconuts, copra, and timber. It also serves as a transit point for ships traveling between the Philippines and neighboring countries in the Pacific region.

City Location: Surigao, Philippines
Latitude: 9.7891° N
Longitude: 125.4875° E

Nearby Cities and Road Connections:

City Distance (km) Road Connection
Butuan City 100 Butuan-Surigao Road
Davao City 400 Davao-Surigao Road
Cagayan de Oro 300 Cagayan-Surigao Road
Tandag 150 Tandag-Surigao Road
Bislig 200 National Highway
Malimono 80 Surigao-Malimono Road
Lianga 170 National Highway

Nearby Railway Stations:

  1. Surigao Railway Station (Philippines)
  2. Butuan Railway Station (Philippines)
  3. Davao Railway Station (Philippines)
  4. Cagayan de Oro Railway Station (Philippines)
  5. Tandag Railway Station (Philippines)