By HENRY EMPEÑO | October 9, 2025

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — With new investments in infrastructure and equipment, port operator Subic Bay International Terminals Corp. (SBITC) is eyeing to increase the combined annual capacity of Subic’s New Container Terminals (NCT-1 and NCT-2) from 600,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) to one million TEUs.

International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), the parent company of SBITC, announced this on its website after securing a 25-year extension to operate the NCTs, a critical international gateway for industries in Central and Northern Luzon, including the free ports of Subic and Clark.

ICTSI Executive Vice President Christian Gonzalez signed the agreement extending SBITC’s concession with Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño on October 3 at the ACEA Subic Beach Resort here.

Gonzalez said SBITC plans to invest over USD$130 million in civil infrastructure and additional equipment as part of its investment and development plan under the extended franchise until 2058.

This will further enhance terminal capabilities, boost operational efficiency, and increase the combined annual capacity of the existing 600,000-TEU container port to one million TEUs, he said.

He added the SBITC will replace the terminal’s four existing gooseneck-type quay cranes and add one more unit to increase container handling. SBITC will also integrate more hybrid rubber-tired gantry (RTG) cranes in the operation. 

“We are thankful to SBMA for trusting us and treating us as the right partner to continue until 2058,” Gonzales said in a statement, adding that the extension of the contract “represents the trust in ICTSI.”

“Extending our partnership with SBMA reaffirms ICTSI’s long-term commitment to support trade growth and economic development in Northern and Central Luzon. Our investments will further strengthen Subic Bay International Terminals’ position as a vital gateway, ensuring it remains a competitive and efficient logistics hub well into the future,” he added.

The SBMA said in a separate statement on Tuesday, October 7, that part of the expansion and upgrades at the NCTs would increase the SBITC’s reefer plug capacity to 1,000 by the end of 2025 to support cold chain logistics.

It also cited recent additions to NCT equipment like near-zero emission (NZE) rubber-tired gantry cranes, tractors, and trailers to improve terminal efficiency.

Plans are also afoot at the NCT to automate gate operations by early 2026 and implement a new digital platform for online payments and truck appointments, the SBMA added. 

COVER PHOTO:  The New Container Terminal in Subic Bay: Expansion plans would add one more unit to the four existing quay cranes to increase capacity from 600,000 to 1 million TEUs. (Photo by Henry Empeño)