Meat importers are reducing their orders due to persistent congestion at Manila ports, which adds at least P50,000 per container to their costs and ties up trucks for two to three additional days, an industry official told BusinessWorld.
The official said the added expenses stem from extended truck detention fees, demurrage charges, and the need for additional labor to handle delayed shipments. Importers are now cautious about committing to new orders until the port situation improves, potentially affecting meat supply in the coming months.
The development comes as the government grapples with logistical bottlenecks in the country's main gateway. Industry stakeholders have called for better coordination among port operators, customs authorities, and trucking companies to ease congestion and stabilize food supply chains.