Major ports cargo traffic rises over 3% to 72.04 million tones in May

New Delhi: Cargo traffic across 12 major ports in the country increased by 3.75 percent year-on-year in May to 72.04 million tones (MT) from 69.43 MT handled in the corresponding month of 2023 with nine such ports showing positive growth.

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Visakhapatnam Port registered the maximum cargo growth in cargo handling at 22.05 percent during the reporting month followed by Chennai Port with 9.10 percent, Cochin Port with 7.78 percent and Mumbai Port with 5.89 percent, according to data released by the major ports' apex body, Indian Ports Association (IPA).

The 12 major ports are Deendayal (Kandla), Mumbai, Mormugao, New Mangalore, Cochin, Chennai, Ennore (Kamarajar), Tuticorin (V O Chidambaranar), Visakhapatnam, Paradip and Kolkata (including Haldia) and Jawaharlal Nehru Port.

According to the IPA, VO Chidambaranar Port saw a 5.59 percent increase in its cargo handling during the previous month while Paradip Port 4.27 percent, Deendayal Port with 3.49 percent, New Mangalore Port with 1.87 percent and JNPA with 1.78 percent.

The ports, which saw a decline in cargo handling during May this year include SMP, Kolkata Port with 15.70 drop followed by Kamarajar Port and Mormugao Port, which witnessed 3.58 percent and 10.55 decline, as per the IPA.

At Kolkata's Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, the overall traffic decreased by 15.70 percent during the previous month, it said, adding Kolkata Dock System (KDS) traffic declined by 7.71 percent and at Haldia Dock Complex (HDC) by 18.32 percent.

IPA attributed the fall in cargo handling traffic at KDS to reduction in coking and other coal by -71.75 percent and finished fertilizers by 43.53 percent, among others.

The major ports' operators body also said that during May 2024, Deendayal Port handled the highest traffic volume at 12.71 MT and commanded a 17.64 percent share of the total cargo handled across 12 ports.

This was followed by Paradip Port with 12.64 MT and 17.55 percent share, Visakhapatnam Port at 8.57 MT with 11.90 percent share, JNPA at 7.45 MT with 10.34 percent share and Mumbai Port at 5.79 MT with 8.04 percent share, according to the IPA.

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