VCT welcomes new China-PH trade service

VISAYAS Container Terminal (VCT), a unit of International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) at the Port of Iloilo, received the inaugural call of SITC Container Lines' CPX6 service on May 6, enhancing Western Visayas' connectivity to mainland China.

The CPX6 service includes key ports such as Tianjin, Yantai, Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo, Qinzhou, Xiamen, Subic Bay, Manila, Iloilo, Cebu and Davao, operated by four vessels with capacities of 2,400 to 2,700 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent unit).

Timothee Jeannin, VCT executive director, said, «Iloilo is strategically located at the center of the Visayas, the second-largest economic region in the Philippines. With the region earmarked for future economic development, we are pleased to directly collaborate with SITC to connect the Visayas to China. The service will help local industries thrive by expanding their market access.»

SITC’s CPX6 service commenced at VCT with the arrival of the SITC Port Klang, one of the four vessels operating the service. Photo shows (from left) Jason Karaan, VCT chief financial officer; Timothee Jeannin, VCT executive director; Capt. Liu Chengxuan, SITC Port Klang vessel master; Mikkel Puyat, ICTSI commercial director-Philippines cluster; and Song Junping, SITC Philippines managing director. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Jeannin emphasized that the new service marks a significant step in fostering trade growth and economic development in Western Visayas.

«The arrival of this service ushers a new era of collaboration and trade opportunity for Western Visayas, which holds immense economic potential across multiple sectors, including agriculture and manufacturing. Strategic investments, infrastructure development and sustainable practices are key to realizing this potential. This service underscores our commitment to fostering trade growth and economic development in the region and supports our goal to become the leading trade facilitator in the Central Philippines,» he said.

VCT began commercial operations in early April under a 25-year concession from the Philippine Ports Authority and plans to improve the port with dredging and modern cargo handling equipment.

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