Cargo Traffic at India's Major Ports Rises Over 3% in May

In a recent update from the Indian Ports Association (IPA), cargo traffic across 12 major ports in India witnessed a notable increase of 3.75 per cent year-on-year in May, reaching 72.04 million tonnes (MT) up from 69.43 MT in the corresponding month of the previous year. This growth was observed in nine out of the twelve ports, indicating a positive trajectory in the country's maritime trade sector.

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Among the ports, Visakhapatnam Port emerged as the frontrunner, registering the highest growth in cargo handling at 22.05 per cent during the reported month. Following closely were Chennai Port with a 9.10 per cent increase, Cochin Port with 7.78 per cent, and Mumbai Port with 5.89 per cent growth. These figures underscore the significant contributions of these ports to India's overall maritime trade performance.

The IPA's data further revealed that VO Chidambaranar Port experienced a 5.59 per cent rise in cargo handling, while Paradip Port saw a 4.27 per cent increase. Deendayal Port and New Mangalore Port also reported growths of 3.49 per cent and 1.87 per cent respectively, with Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) witnessing a modest increase of 1.78 per cent.

Ports Facing Declines

However, not all ports experienced positive growth. SMP Kolkata Port faced a significant decline of 15.70 per cent in cargo handling, followed by Kamarajar Port and Mormugao Port, which saw decreases of 3.58 per cent and 10.55 per cent respectively. The IPA attributed these declines to various factors including a substantial reduction in coking and other coal by -71.75 per cent and finished fertilizers by -43.53 per cent at Kolkata Dock System (KDS).

Top Performers in Cargo Volume

When it comes to handling volumes, Deendayal Port led the pack with the highest traffic volume at 12.71 MT, claiming a 17.64 per cent share of the total cargo handled across the major ports. Paradip Port was not far behind with 12.64 MT and a 17.55 per cent share, followed by Visakhapatnam Port at 8.57 MT with an 11.90 per cent share, JNPA at 7.45 MT with a 10.34 per cent share, and Mumbai Port at 5.79 MT holding an 8.04 per cent share.

This performance overview of India's major ports for May showcases not only the resilience and robustness of the country's maritime sector but also highlights areas requiring attention for further improvement and efficiency enhancement.