PH Prefix and Three-Letter Location Code
Philippines UN/LOCODE entries use the country prefix PH followed by a three-character location identifier. Examples in the sample include PHMNL for Manila, PHCEB for Cebu and PHDVO for Davao.
Seaports in Philippines: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026)
Philippines has 105 ports and terminals indexed in the Ecer Freight database, supporting maritime trade across the archipelago and serving as a Southeast Asian gateway for container, bulk and project cargo.
Explore verified port codes, regional cargo gateways, trade lanes and practical shipping information for Philippines.
Philippines Port Overview
Philippines is an island economy whose maritime network connects Manila and Luzon with the Visayas and Mindanao. Ecer Freight’s indexed-port count is a database coverage measure, while throughput and ranking figures use separate official or publicly reported statistical definitions.
105
Philippines ports & terminals indexed in our database
Ecer Freight database · Oct 2026
—
National cargo tonnage, 2025; comparable YoY change not reported
PPA · 2025 statistical release
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National container throughput, 2025; comparable YoY change not reported
PPA · 2025 statistical release
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National commercial-berth total, 2025; YoY change not reported
PPA · 2025 statistical release
How many seaports does Philippines have?
Philippines has 105 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in its Oct 2026 database snapshot. This is an indexed coverage figure, not a claim that every facility has the same legal or operational status.
What is the largest or busiest port gateway in Philippines?
Manila is the principal container gateway in Philippines, represented in the sample by Manila (PHMNL) and related Manila entries. Cebu (PHCEB) is a major central-Visayas gateway, while Batangas (PHBAT) and Subic Bay (PHSPS) support the wider Luzon market.
Which regions handle the main freight flows?
The main freight clusters are Metro Manila and adjacent Luzon ports, the Visayas network led by Cebu and Iloilo, and Mindanao gateways including Davao (PHDVO), Cagayan De Oro (PHCGY) and General Santos (PHGSA).
Top Philippines Ports by Commercial Relevance
The table below follows the activity order of the supplied Ecer Freight sample. A comparable 2025 port-by-port world ranking and TEU series was not available for every listed gateway at the time of the Oct 2026 snapshot, so unsupported figures are left blank rather than estimated.
Selected principal container and cargo gateways; 2025 throughput and world-rank fields require confirmation against the relevant terminal or port authority release.
| World rank | Port | UN-LOCODE | 2025 throughput (M TEU) | YoY change | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Manila | PHMNL | — | — | Luzon |
| — | Parang | PHPAR | — | — | Mindanao |
| — | Cebu | PHCEB | — | — | Visayas |
| — | Manila (south) | PHMNS | — | — | Luzon |
| — | Manila (north) | PHMNH | — | — | Luzon |
| — | Davao | PHDVO | — | — | Mindanao |
| — | Subic Bay | PHSPS | — | — | Luzon |
| — | Cagayan De Oro | PHCGY | — | — | Mindanao |
| — | Pulupandan | PHPUL | — | — | Visayas |
| — | Iloilo | PHILO | — | — | Visayas |
Philippines Port Regions and Cargo Roles
Metro Manila and Southern Luzon
The Manila gateway and nearby Southern Luzon facilities serve the country’s largest urban and industrial market, with container, general cargo, ro-ro and bulk activity.
Selected Luzon ports in the Ecer Freight sample.
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manila | PHMNL | Manila | Container and general cargo gateway |
| Manila (south) | PHMNS | Manila | Southern Manila container and cargo operations |
| Manila (north) | PHMNH | Manila | Northern Manila cargo operations |
| Manila | PHMAN | Manila | City-level Manila port entry |
| Batangas | PHBAT | Batangas | Container, ro-ro and industrial cargo |
| Subic Bay | PHSPS | Subic Bay | Container, project and industrial cargo |
| Cavite | PHCAV | Cavite | Metro Manila adjacent cargo and feeder activity |
Visayas
The central-island network supports domestic distribution and international cargo through Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod and smaller regional gateways.
Selected Visayas ports in the Ecer Freight sample.
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cebu | PHCEB | Cebu | Central-Visayas container and distribution gateway |
| Iloilo | PHILO | Iloilo | Western-Visayas general and container cargo |
| Pulupandan | PHPUL | Pulupandan | Bulk and agricultural cargo |
| Bacolod | PHBAC | Bacolod | Regional container and sugar-related cargo |
| Tacloban | PHTAC | Tacloban | Eastern-Visayas regional cargo |
| Ormoc | PHORM | Ormoc | Bulk, project and regional cargo |
| Tagbilaran | PHTAG | Tagbilaran | Island distribution and passenger-linked cargo |
Northern and Eastern Mindanao
Mindanao gateways connect agricultural, mineral, consumer and industrial cargo with domestic and regional shipping services.
Selected Mindanao ports in the Ecer Freight sample.
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davao | PHDVO | Davao City | Southern Mindanao container and agricultural gateway |
| Cagayan De Oro | PHCGY | Cagayan De Oro | Northern Mindanao container and industrial cargo |
| Cagayan De Oro | PHCDO | Cagayan De Oro | City-level cargo and distribution entry |
| General Santos | PHGSA | General Santos | Food, reefer and agricultural exports |
| Masao | PHMSO | Masao | Bulk and regional cargo |
| Iligan | PHILI | Iligan | Industrial and bulk cargo |
| Ozamis | PHOZC | Ozamis City | Regional container and general cargo |
| Zamboanga | PHZAM | Zamboanga | Western Mindanao regional gateway |
Southern and Eastern Regional Gateways
Smaller gateways provide access to island economies and specialized cargo markets. Schedules, draft limits and equipment availability are subject to carrier and terminal confirmation.
Additional regional ports in the Ecer Freight sample.
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parang | PHPAR | Parang | Regional and bulk cargo |
| General Santos | PHGES | General Santos | Regional cargo and food supply chains |
| Puerto Princesa | PHPPR | Puerto Princesa | Palawan regional cargo |
| Surigao | PHSUR | Surigao | Mineral, bulk and regional cargo |
| Nasipit | PHNPT | Nasipit | Mindanao regional and bulk cargo |
| Panabo | PHPAN | Panabo | Agricultural and general cargo |
| Villanueva | PHVIL | Villanueva | Industrial and bulk cargo |
Philippines Port Codes and UN/LOCODE Structure
City-Level and Terminal-Level Entries
A city-level code and a terminal or operational-area entry may appear as separate records. Manila, Manila (north) and Manila (south) should therefore be checked against the booking instruction, bill of lading and terminal appointment details.
How to Verify a Port Code
Verify the location against the UNECE UN/LOCODE database and compare it with the relevant carrier schedule. The Ecer Freight port directory provides an additional searchable reference.
Shipping from Philippines: Main Trade Lanes
Transit times are indicative port-to-port planning ranges. Actual schedules depend on vessel rotation, transshipment, seasonality, port congestion, documentation and customs requirements.
Philippines to East Asia
Frequent regional services connect Philippines with manufacturing and distribution hubs in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea and Japan.
Philippines to Southeast Asia
Intra-Asia services support consumer goods, components, food products and regional distribution across ASEAN markets.
Philippines to North America
North American services generally use direct or transshipment routings and are widely used for electronics, machinery, retail and project cargo.
Philippines to Europe
Europe-bound cargo commonly moves through Asian hub ports before connecting with an east–west mainline service.
Sources and Methodology
- Ecer Freight Ports Database — first-party indexed coverage of 105 Philippines ports and terminals, snapshot October 2026.
- Philippine Ports Authority — official port administration information and published cargo, container and facility statistics where available.
- Philippine Statistics Authority — national trade and economic statistics used for context and cross-checking.
- UNECE UN/LOCODE — international location-code reference used to interpret PH-prefixed port identifiers.
- UNCTAD Data Hub — maritime transport and trade context; figures may use different coverage and reporting periods from port-authority data.
Philippines Port FAQ
How many seaports does Philippines have?
Philippines has 105 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in the October 2026 database snapshot.
What is the main container port in Philippines?
Manila is generally the principal container gateway, with the sample including PHMNL, PHMNS, PHMNH and PHMAN entries. Exact terminal selection depends on the carrier and booking.
What are the main regional ports in Philippines?
Cebu (PHCEB), Davao (PHDVO), Cagayan De Oro (PHCGY), General Santos (PHGSA), Iloilo (PHILO), Batangas (PHBAT) and Subic Bay (PHSPS) are important regional or national cargo gateways.
How are Philippines port codes formatted?
UN/LOCODE entries use the PH country prefix followed by three characters, such as PHMNL, PHCEB or PHDVO. The specific code should be checked against the shipping line’s booking and terminal instructions.
Which Philippines ports serve Mindanao?
Mindanao coverage in the sample includes Davao, Cagayan De Oro, General Santos, Zamboanga, Iligan, Ozamis, Nasipit, Panabo, Villanueva and Parang, among others.
How current are the port data on this page?
The indexed-port snapshot is dated October 2026. Official throughput and facility statistics follow the latest complete reporting year available, with 2025 preferred where a comparable release exists. Shipping schedules remain subject to confirmation.
How can a shipper request a Philippines sea-freight quote?
Provide origin and destination ports, cargo description, package dimensions, weight, container type, Incoterms and required sailing date. FCL and LCL rate tools can then be used for an indicative comparison.
Editorial note: This Philippines guide combines the Ecer Freight port index with official port, trade and UN/LOCODE references. The indexed-port inventory is reviewed against database changes, while macro statistics and trade-lane guidance are refreshed quarterly or when a relevant official release becomes available.
Ecer Freight · Seaports in Philippines: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026) · Data reviewed quarterly · Port Codes · Ports by Country · Contact