PH Prefix and Three-Letter Location Code
Philippines uses the country prefix PH in UN/LOCODEs. The following three letters identify the location, such as 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 and serves as a strategically important maritime gateway between East Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
Explore port codes, regional gateways, indicative trade lanes and practical freight-planning information for Philippines.
Philippines Port Overview
Philippines is an archipelagic trading nation with port activity distributed across Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao. Ecer Freight coverage is an indexed database count, while throughput league tables use separately reported port or national statistics.
105
Philippines ports & terminals indexed in our database
Ecer Freight database · Nov 2026
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National port cargo throughput, 2025; YoY change not consolidated in the available official public figure
PPA · 2025 statistical release
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National container throughput, 2025; YoY change not consolidated in the available official public figure
PPA · 2025 statistical release
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National commercial berths, 2025; YoY change not consolidated in the available official public figure
PPA · 2025 statistical release
How many seaports does Philippines have?
Philippines has 105 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight as of the Nov 2026 database snapshot. This is an indexed coverage figure, not a statutory count of every public, private or minor landing facility.
Which ports are among the busiest in Philippines?
Manila, Cebu and Davao are among the principal commercial gateways in the database, represented by PHMAN, PHCEB and PHDAV respectively. Manila handles the country’s largest metropolitan market, while Cebu and Davao support major regional cargo flows.
Which regions handle the main freight flows?
The main freight clusters are the Manila and Batangas gateway area in Luzon, Cebu and other Visayan ports, and Mindanao gateways including Davao, Cagayan De Oro and General Santos.
Top Philippines Ports by Commercial Relevance
The following ports are selected from the highest-ranked Philippines records in the Ecer Freight sample. A globally comparable 2025 TEU league rank and port-level annual throughput are not consistently published for all Philippine gateways, so unavailable fields are shown as an entire-row dash rather than estimated.
Selected commercial gateways · 2025 figures where a consistent public port-level series is available
| World rank | Port | UN-LOCODE | 2025 throughput (M TEU) | YoY change | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Manila | PHMNL | — | — | Manila gateway |
| — | Cebu | PHCEB | — | — | Visayas |
| — | Davao | PHDVO | — | — | Mindanao |
| — | Subic Bay | PHSPS | — | — | Central Luzon |
| — | Cagayan De Oro | PHCGY | — | — | Mindanao |
| — | Iloilo | PHILO | — | — | Western Visayas |
| — | General Santos | PHGSA | — | — | Southern Mindanao |
| — | Batangas | PHBAT | — | — | Southern Luzon |
Philippines Port Regions
Manila and Southern Luzon
The Manila metropolitan gateway and nearby southern Luzon facilities serve the country’s largest concentration of importers, exporters, manufacturers and distribution centers.
Key ports and terminals
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manila | PHMNL | Manila | Containerized imports, exports and metropolitan distribution |
| Manila | PHMAN | Manila | Commercial port and general cargo flows |
| Batangas | PHBAT | Batangas | Container, ro-ro, bulk and industrial cargo |
| Cavite | PHCAV | Cavite | Regional industrial and general cargo |
| Subic Bay | PHSPS | Subic Bay | Container, project and freeport-related cargo |
Visayas
Visayan gateways connect inter-island distribution networks with international services, with Cebu acting as a central cargo and transshipment market.
Key ports and terminals
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cebu | PHCEB | Cebu | Containerized cargo and central Visayas distribution |
| Iloilo | PHILO | Iloilo | Regional container, agricultural and general cargo |
| Pulupandan | PHPUL | Pulupandan | Bulk, agricultural and regional cargo |
| Bacolod | PHBAC | Bacolod | Inter-island, food and general cargo |
| Tacloban | PHTAC | Tacloban | Eastern Visayas regional cargo |
| Ormoc | PHORM | Ormoc | Regional bulk, ro-ro and general cargo |
Mindanao
Mindanao ports support agricultural exports, regional manufacturing supply chains, consumer distribution and domestic inter-island services.
Key ports and terminals
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davao | PHDVO | Davao | Containerized, agricultural and regional export cargo |
| Cagayan De Oro | PHCDO | Cagayan De Oro | Container, consumer and industrial cargo |
| General Santos | PHGSA | General Santos | Food, fisheries, agricultural and general cargo |
| Zamboanga | PHZAM | Zamboanga | Regional container, food and inter-island cargo |
| Panabo | PHPAN | Panabo | Agricultural and bulk export cargo |
| Iligan | PHILI | Iligan | Industrial, bulk and general cargo |
Philippines Port Codes and UN/LOCODEs
UN/LOCODEs help carriers, forwarders, customs systems and booking platforms identify transport locations. A code should be checked against the exact location and terminal required for the shipment.
City-Level and Terminal-Level References
A city-level code may cover a wider port area, while a carrier booking may require a specific terminal, facility or operating location. The shipping instruction should match the carrier’s accepted code and the actual cargo-handling facility.
How to Verify a Port Code
Compare the code with the latest UNECE UN/LOCODE information and the relevant carrier or port documentation. 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 carrier rotations, transshipment, equipment, congestion, weather, customs and the final delivery location.
Philippines to East Asia
Regular container services connect Philippines with manufacturing and distribution markets in Northeast and Southeast Asia.
Philippines to Southeast Asia
Short- and medium-haul services support regional trade in consumer goods, components, food products and industrial cargo.
Philippines to North America
Transpacific and relay services move manufactured products, electronics, agricultural goods and retail cargo to North American markets.
Philippines to Europe
Europe-bound cargo generally moves through hub connections and may require transshipment before reaching the final European port.
Data Sources and Methodology
Port coverage, code presentation and market commentary are separated from official traffic statistics. Time-sensitive figures should be checked against the latest authority release and carrier schedule before booking.
- Ecer Freight Ports Database — first-party indexed coverage of 105 Philippines ports and terminals; database snapshot Nov 2026.
- UNECE — international UN/LOCODE structure and location-code reference.
- Philippine Ports Authority — official port administration, cargo and facilities information where published.
- Philippine Statistics Authority — national trade and economic statistics used for wider market context.
- National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency — maritime and port reference information for navigational context.
Philippines Port FAQ
How many seaports does Philippines have?
Philippines has 105 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in the Nov 2026 database snapshot. The figure represents indexed coverage and is not necessarily the statutory total of all facilities in the country.
What is the largest port gateway in Philippines?
Manila is generally regarded as the country’s principal metropolitan gateway, with the Ecer Freight sample including PHMNL, PHMAN, PHMNS and PHMNH records. Exact terminal selection depends on the carrier service and cargo destination.
What are the main port codes in Philippines?
Commonly used records in the Ecer Freight sample include PHMNL for Manila, PHCEB for Cebu, PHDVO for Davao, PHSPS for Subic Bay and PHBAT for Batangas. The accepted code should be confirmed with the carrier and terminal.
Which regions are important for Philippines sea freight?
The main commercial clusters are Manila and southern Luzon, the Visayas centered on Cebu, and Mindanao gateways such as Davao, Cagayan De Oro and General Santos.
Are Philippines port statistics updated for 2025?
The page is a 2026 guide with a Nov 2026 database snapshot. Official port statistics are released on the schedule of the relevant authority, and 2025 port-level TEU and year-on-year figures should be verified against the latest PPA or carrier publication.
How can a shipper request a freight quote from Philippines?
Provide the origin port, destination, cargo description, package details, weight, volume, container type, Incoterm and preferred sailing window. FCL and LCL rate searches can then be compared through the relevant Ecer Freight quote pages.
Are transit times from Philippines guaranteed?
No. Published transit times are indicative planning ranges and remain subject to vessel schedules, transshipment, port operations, customs clearance, weather and equipment availability.
Editorial note: This Philippines port guide combines Ecer Freight’s first-party indexed port records with publicly available information from maritime, statistical and port authorities. Database coverage is reviewed periodically, while official throughput, berth and schedule data may change after authority revisions or new annual releases.
Ecer Freight · Seaports in Philippines: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026) · Data reviewed quarterly · Port Codes · Ports by Country · Contact