The port is part of the Maritime Silk Road that runs from the Chinese coast to the south via Singapore towards the southern tip of India, to Mombasa, then through the Suez Canal to the Mediterranean with its connections to Central and Eastern Europe.

Mariveles, in the province of Bataan, is an anchorage just inside the northern entrance, and Sangley Point is the former location of Cavite Naval Base.

[18] It has been suggested by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) on the 2014 study Metro Manila Dream Plan to place a cap for the expansion of Manila seaports, shifting cargo-handling operations to the ports of Subic Bay and Batangas, and to eventually redevelop the port area into high value-added diversified waterfront area.

[22] With Berth 6 in operation, ICTSI is scheduled to finish Phase 1 development of Yard 7 by yearend and increase MICT's import capacity by 18 percent.

[23] South of Metro Manila, ICTSI's Laguna Gateway Inland Container Terminal (LGICT) has finished its Phase 1 development.

It will be connected to Manila through the revival of the Manila-Calamba cargo intermodal system, which ceased operations in 2000 due to lower demand.

These directly connect the Port to Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange, Navotas, and Balagtas, Bulacan, respectively.

The Pier 4 station is the future western terminus of Manila Light Rail Transit System Line 2 (LRT-2).