Empty containers are piling up in and around Manila's ports. Many boxes cannot be returned to the shipping lines or their depots in time after unloading. This ties up trucks and chassis. For new import orders, the vehicles are simply not available.
Customs brokers and port truckers initiated a voluntary "Rest Day" on October 5, 2026. They were not to issue gate passes, book trucks, and avoid triggering shipments where possible. A further group followed on October 6 with a "Trucking Holiday." Participation is voluntary. The ports are therefore not officially closed, but pick-ups, deliveries, and customs clearances can run significantly slower.
The dispute is not only about empty boxes. Shipping line fees, missing drivers, local driving restrictions, and the terminal booking system are also cited. According to the participating groups, individual empty containers wait for return options for up to several weeks.
Hapag-Lloyd has responded to the situation and is no longer accepting new bookings to Manila, Batangas, and Subic Bay. The suspension applies to all ports of origin and trade routes and is currently set until December 31, 2026. Existing bookings are not automatically cancelled. The shipping line will contact affected customers if a booking needs to be modified or cancelled.
For cargo already in transit, the situation remains problematic. Delays in pick-up can incur terminal storage charges. If the empty container cannot be returned later, detention costs threaten. Detention is the fee for excessive use of the container outside the terminal. Whether free days are extended or costs waived must be clarified in writing for each shipping line and booking.
Anyone planning new shipments to the Philippines should not blindly book alternatives. Batangas and Subic Bay are also blocked with Hapag-Lloyd.