Hapag-Lloyd Suspends Bookings to Manila, Batangas, and Subic Until the End of the Year
Hapag-Lloyd has stopped accepting new bookings to Manila, Batangas, and Subic due to congestion and a severe shortage of empty container repositioning capacity, as truckers continue their protests.
Shipping company Hapag-Lloyd has stopped accepting any new bookings to Manila, Batangas, and Subic Bay in the Philippines from any origin or trade lane, effective immediately through December 31, 2026, according to news website PortCalls.
The company attributed the decision to congestion and severe constraints on depot capacity and empty container repositioning. Reports stated that truckers waited up to two weeks for depots to accept empty container drop-offs, while foreign shipping lines refused to accept empties for about a month.
Philippine Customs said it is enforcing a 90-day dwell time rule, and PortCalls quoted Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno as saying that a proposed joint administrative order is ready for signature. The World Ports Organization reported that only about 10% of cargo volumes are moving out of Manila ports, with thousands of empty boxes and high yard utilization at the Manila International Container Terminal and Manila Port.
Customs brokers and truckers said their action could last a week until empty containers are cleared from the yards, renewing pressure on cargo movement in Philippine markets.
What do these terms mean?
Empty Container: A metal box returned to the port after being unloaded so it can be reused; its accumulation disrupts the shipping cycle and ties up port yards.
Dwell Time Rule: A time limit imposed by customs on how long cargo can remain at the port before action is taken.
Depot Capacity: The space designated for unloading, storing, and transferring containers between trucks and ships inside the port.
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