Asian Terminals Inc. plans to expand overseas

MANILA, Philippines — Port operator Asian Terminals Inc. (ATI) is eyeing to make its maiden international venture through a possible acquisition, while also continuing a number of expansion projects in the country.

“If there’s a good opportunity that comes, we’ll certainly consider. We’re always on the look out for that,” ATI president Eusebio Tanco said regarding the companies overseas expansion plans.

For its local operations, Tanco said ATI is investing “quite a bit this year.”

“We have a lot of projects. We are expanding the South Harbor. And then we are expanding Batangas. And we’re moving into logistics,” he said.

ATI has earmarked at least P8 billion for capital expenditures this year, 74 percent higher than the P4.6 billion capex in 2017 as it seeks to deliver better, faster, and safer ports and logistics services to the country’s supply-chain.

Aside from the Manila South Harbor and the port of Batangas, ATI also operates the off-dock container yards in Sta. Mesa in Manila and Calamba in Laguna which serve as the country’s marine transport infrastructure and economic trade gateways.

ATI’s terminals handle containerized and non-containerized cargoes, bulk and break-bulk cargoes, roll-on/roll-off shipment and passengers.

In the first quarter, ATI’s net income grew by 19 percent to P581.9 million from P490.5 million in the same period last year.

Excluding foreign exchange losses attributable to port concession rights payable, the firm’s net income may have been at a higher P658.8 million for the first three months, up 15.4 percent from the P571.1 million in 2017.