International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) is building a new international container terminal in Bauan, Batangas, Philippines.

The new terminal will be the largest privately-funded marine terminal investment in the country’s history and will ultimately be the second-largest container facility after the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) in the Port of Manila.

In a statement, port operator ICTSI said with design and engineering studies well underway, it will begin construction in the first quarter of 2025.

The first berth is scheduled for completion by the end of 2027.

ICTSI noted that construction will begin in 2025 with an estimated US$800 million investment.

Upon completion, the terminal will feature up to 900 meters of quay at least 8 ship-to-shore gantry cranes and an estimated capacity of over 2M TEUs per annum.

Critically, the terminal will have direct and unencumbered access to Southern Luzon's expressways — which was made possible by the completion of the Bauan-San Pascual-Batangas-STAR tollway diversion road.

Additional expressway projects from Cavite to Bauan by Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation and San Miguel Corporation are expected to further enhance the new port's connectivity making it the most efficiently connected maritime facility in Luzon by both capacity and route access.

"The new terminal represents a significant leap forward for Southern Luzon. We are building a world-class facility that will unlock a wave of economic benefits for the region and the country," said Christian R. Gonzalez, executive vice president of ICTSI.

"It will create new employment opportunities, improve the quality of life for our host communities and the industries located around the terminal, and solidify Southern Luzon's position as a key player in global trade," he added.

Gonzales pointed out that the new terminal aligns with ICTSI's strategy of establishing a national network of ports. This will enhance the country's supply chain and global trade competitiveness through ICTSI's operational synergy.

Strategically located 120 kilometers south of Manila and nine kilometers west of Batangas City, the Bauan facility will become the premier international gateway for shippers based in the CALABARZON region (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon), and the most modern container terminal in the country.

CALABARZON continues to be one of the Philippines' fastest-growing regions, reaching a 5.2% growth rate in 2023, according to the latest figures from the Philippine Statistics Authority.

ICTSI noted that the facility would likewise allow ICTSI to efficiently balance capacity needs across both the Metro Manila consumption centre and CALABARZON through the new Bauan terminal and the MICT.