Cargo handling at Indian ports up 13 per cent in November despite trade slump
23 Dec 2009
Major ports in the country saw a 13-per cent increase in cargo volumes in November 2009 helped by an increase in the volumes of iron and coal cargo traffic.
Cargo traffic at Indian ports rose to 48.2 million tonnes in November 2009 against 42.5 million tonnes in November 2008. Cargo traffic during the period grew 3.4 per cent over the same month of the previous year.
November 2009 saw the second highest monthly cargo traffic since April 2008, data released by the Indian Ports Association showed.
Paradip port in Orissa reported the highest year-on-year growth at 43 per cent, helped by a 41 per cent growth in coal traffic. Chennai Port was at the second place with a 27 per cent growth in cargo volumes, following an increase in container traffic.
Twelve of the 13 major ports recorded overall growth in cargo traffic in November 2009. Visakhapatnam posted a growth of 19 per cent while Mumbai posted 18 per cent growth during the month.
Of the total cargo handled at all major ports, solid cargo accounted for 50 per cent and liquid cargo for 32 per cent while containers accounted for 18 per cent of the volume.