NLEX Corporation reported a 2 percent rise in first-half 2026 net income, climbing to ₱7.46 billion from ₱7.33 billion in the same period a year earlier, as higher toll revenues countered softer traffic volumes and steeper operating and maintenance costs driven by an ongoing fuel price crisis.
Toll revenues advanced 7 percent year-on-year to ₱15.77 billion, led by scheduled toll rate adjustments implemented on the NLEX main line in January 2026. Additional earnings came from service facility fees and advertising space rentals, supporting overall top-line performance.
Traffic trends were mixed. Average daily vehicle entries on NLEX slipped 1 percent to 352,067, while SCTEX saw a 4 percent drop to 81,111 daily entries—both declines linked to reduced travel demand amid elevated fuel prices. The NLEX Connector stood out as a bright spot, recording a 7 percent daily traffic increase to 21,885 entries.
Earnings growth was notably restrained by rising operating expenses. Total cost of services rose 14 percent to ₱5.53 billion, a ₱687 million increase, fueled in part by fuel price hikes and related energy and operational cost pressures. Repairs and maintenance costs surged 124 percent or ₱278 million higher year-on-year, driven by pricier labor and materials for road upkeep, toll system maintenance, technology upgrades, and facility and equipment repairs.
Higher revenue shares payable to government entities also weighed on results. BCDA’s 50 percent share of SCTEX toll revenues reached ₱1.45 billion—6 percent higher than a year prior—while the PNCC government share fee for NLEX rose 8 percent to ₱717 million.
The results underscore the company’s ability to leverage approved rate adjustments to protect profitability, even as it navigates softer traffic, inflationary pressures, and rising mandatory payments.
