India’s 12 major ports register a growth of 3.46% during Apr-Nov

The cargo traffic at country's major ports have witnessed a growth of 3.46% during April-November 2017 period, with the 12 top ports handling 439.66 million tonnes of cargo.

“Major ports in India have recorded a growth of 3.46% and together handled 439.66 million tonnes of cargo during the period April to November, 2017 as against 424.96 million tonnes handled during the corresponding period of previous year,” said a statement by the Ministry of Shipping on Thursday.

During the eight-month period, nine ports including Kolkata, Paradip, Chennai, Cochin, Visakhapatnam, Mumbai, New Mangalore, Kandla and JNPT have recorded a positive growth in cargo traffic.

Cochin Port has registered the highest growth of 17.93%, mainly due to surge in the traffic of petroleum, oil and lubricants (POL) and containers, the statement said.

It was followed by Paradip Port with 13.13% growth, Kolkata (including Haldia) with 12.64%, New Mangalore 7.07% and JNPT 5.69%, it added.

In terms of volume, Kandla Port handled the maximum traffic of 72.03 million tonnes, accounting for 16.38% share. It was followed by Paradip Port, which handled 64.97 million tonnes (14.78%), JNPT with 43.26 million tonnes (9.84%), Mumbai with 42.33 million tonnes (9.63% share), and Visakhapatnam with 40.95 million tonnes (9.31% share). Collectively, these five ports handled about 60% of the overall traffic at the major ports.

“The Ministry of Shipping has taken significant strides in the last three years to make India’s presence felt on the global maritime map. Various steps have been taken to provide a robust legislative framework, create capacities, impart skills to people, and create an enabling business environment for growth of the maritime sector in the country,” the statement said.

The top 12 major ports in India are Cochin, Chennai, JNPT, Kandla, Kolkata (including Haldia) Marmugao, Mumbai, New Mangalore, Paradip Ennore, V O Chidambarnar, Visakhapatnam, which handle around 61% of the total cargo traffic in the country.