Empty container pile-up in Manila triggers three-day trucking strike

· Logistics · Philippines

Customs brokers and hauliers in Manila are expected to voluntarily stop work ahead of a three-day trucking strike, as a year-long standoff over carriers failing to remove empty containers reaches its limit. Hapag-Lloyd has suspended bookings amid the chaos, and organizers warn the protest could last a week. The dispute centers on shipping lines not clearing empties from the port, which has caused a pile-up that hampers truckers' ability to move cargo efficiently. The strike threatens to disrupt Philippine import and export flows through Manila, one of Southeast Asia's busiest ports, adding to congestion pressures already affecting regional supply chains.

Why it matters：The strike exposes how empty-container mismanagement can halt a major Southeast Asian port, threatening regional supply chains and pressuring carriers to fix equipment flows.

Key points

  • Customs brokers and hauliers expected to stop work voluntarily before a three-day strike
  • Hapag-Lloyd suspended bookings; organizers warn the protest could last a week
  • A year-long standoff over carriers failing to remove empty containers triggered the action

Sources (original reporting)

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