Visayas Container Terminal (VCT), operated by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), has announced that it will launch SITC Container Lines’ revamped China-Philippines Express 7 (CPX7) service with weekly calls to Iloilo.
This commenced in March 2025, with the service aiming to boost Iloilo’s trade connectivity, offering improved reliability, frequency, and cargo handling efficiency. The CPX7 service, featuring the 1,800-TEU SITC Fujian, utilises VCT’s new mobile harbour cranes for efficient cargo operations and faster vessel turnaround.
With expanded weekly rotations, the service connects Iloilo to Shanghai, Xiamen, Cebu, and Cagayan de Oro, boosting trade access to China and key Philippine markets. Increased frequency enhances schedule reliability and supply chain efficiency for importers and exporters in Western Visayas and beyond.
SITC, a intra-Asia shipping provider based in Hong Kong, operates across 120 ports in ASEAN, China, Japan, and beyond. With this expansion, Iloilo becomes a key hub in SITC’s growing regional network, positioning the Visayas as a vital trade gateway in the Philippines. Weekly SITC calls will boost the movement of construction materials, consumer goods, and merchandise, while creating stronger export opportunities for agriculture and fisheries products.
The introduction of mobile harbor cranes — the largest in the Visayas — and terminal upgrades allow VCT to accommodate larger vessels and growing cargo volumes, supporting trade growth in Western Visayas. In October 2024, VCT installed two new mobile harbour cranes (MHC), the first of their type on Panay Island.
