MANILA, Philippines / ConSynSer / – Asian Terminals, Inc. (ATI), the Philippine port operator partnered with DP World, has secured a 25-year renewal of its concession to operate and develop Manila South Harbour. The renewed agreement with the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) will run from May 2038 to May 2063. It gives the company long-term certainty to keep developing one of the country’s key international trade gateways. ATI disclosed the signing on Thursday, November 12.
The current concession was first granted in 1988 and extended in 2007 until May 2038, according to PortCalls. ATI applied for the renewal in December 2025 under PPA Administrative Order No. 007-2023, which sets guidelines for renewing seaport terminal contracts. The agreement comes as ATI marks its 40th anniversary this year. The company described the deal as a milestone after four decades of investment in port infrastructure and trade connectivity.
“The Philippines has significant long-term growth potential and an important role to play in regional and global trade,” said Essa Kazim, Executive Chairman of DP World. He said realizing that potential requires sustained investment in world-class infrastructure. Kazim said the renewal provides the certainty needed to plan and invest for decades ahead. He added that it reflects DP World’s belief in the Philippines’ economic future.
Next phase of investment
Jason Varsamidis, CEO and Managing Director of DP World Asia Pacific, called the renewal a strong endorsement of ATI’s track record. He said ATI has built a long-term partnership with the PPA over four decades. The focus now is on the next phase of development, including investment in capacity, technology and more sustainable operations. The aim is to keep Manila South Harbour competitive, efficient and responsive to the changing needs of customers.
ATI plans to expand capacity, deploy greener and more energy-efficient cargo-handling equipment and increase automation. It will also adopt advanced digital technologies to deliver safer and smarter end-to-end logistics services. The upgrades aim to prepare the port for changing trade patterns and rising cargo volumes. The company has not disclosed a spending figure or volume targets for the new term. It earlier launched a Php5.7 billion modernization program that included extending Pier 3 and adding two ship-to-shore cranes, PortCalls reported.
Four decades of growth
Over the past 40 years, ATI has invested more than Php42 billion in developing and modernizing its Philippine port facilities. Its operations have handled about 30 million twenty-foot equivalent units of containers and 57 million metric tons of non-containerized cargo. They have also served about 70 million passengers. Besides Manila South Harbour, ATI runs the Batangas Container Terminal south of the capital.
The deal adds to investment in regional infrastructure, as Southeast Asia needs $7.1 trillion in infrastructure through 2040, according to the Asian Development Bank. Ports are central to that effort as trade volumes grow. Maritime hubs across Asia and the Gulf are also upgrading, with Abu Dhabi entering the world’s top 15 maritime cities this year. ATI said the renewal positions the port to serve shipping lines, importers and exporters for decades.