With increased demand from the manufacturing and steel sectors, India’s 12 major ports in April recorded an increase in cargo traffic by 6% to 55.75 million tonnes.

During the same month last year, cargo traffic at major ports was at 52.46 million tonnes, according to data released by the Indian Ports Association (IPA), a government body responsible for the development of all major ports under the supervisory control of the India Ministry of Shipping.

The increase is due to an increase in demand from sectors including iron ore, coking coal and container traffic, the IPA said in a statement.

During April 2017, iron ore traffic increased by 40% increase to 5.37 million tonnes as compared to the same month last year; coking coal volumes rose by 15% to 4.61 million tonnes against April 2016.

Container traffic increased to 700,000 TEUs, registering an increase of 9.78% against container traffic during April 2016 and petroleum, oil and lubricants (POL) volumes increased by 7% over last year.

Among the major ports, Kandla Port in Gujarat handled the highest traffic volume at 9.32 million tonnes in April 2017, followed by Paradip Port in Odisha (7.33 million tonnes), Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Maharashtra (5.75 million tonnes), Mumbai Port (5.33 million tonnes), Visakhapatnam Port in Andhra Pradesh (4.92 million tonnes), Kolkata Port (4.23 million tonnes) and Chennai Port (3.93 million tonnes).

During April 2017, Jawaharlal Nehru Port handled 416,436 TEUs, which marks its highest monthly volume ever, registering 12.64% growth as compared to April 2016. Jawaharlal Nehru Port Container Terminal (JNPCT), one of four terminals at JN Port and which is directly managed by the port authority, handled 139,953 TEUs in April 2017.

According to the IPA, container trade has been growing at a rate of 6.5% per annum against the global average of 5.4% over the last 10 years. Tonnage of India-flagged ships has also crossed 10 million DWT, with the potential for more investments.

Overall during the 2016-17 fiscal year, the 12 major ports handled a record 647.43 million tonnes of traffic, registering an annual growth rate of 6.79%, as against 4.32% growth last year.

In respect of the development of port infrastructure during 2016-17, 56 projects were awarded with a capacity of 103.52 million tonnes per annum, against a target of 102 MTPA with an investment of US$1.3 billion.

India’s 12 major ports consist of Kandla, Mumbai, Jawaharlal Nehru, Mormugao in Goa, New Mangalore in Karnataka, Cochin in Kerala, Chennai, Ennore near Chennai, VO Chidambaranar in Tamil Nadu, Visakhapatnam and Andhra Pradesh, Paradip and Kolkata (including Haldia), which together handle approximately 61% of the country’s total cargo traffic.

By Jagdish Kumar

India Correspondent | Mumbai