Cargo traffic at major ports up 5.2 % at 315.4 million tonnes in H1

Major ports in India handled 315.4 million tonnes of cargo during the first six months of the current financial year (April-September 2016-17), showing a positive growth of 5.1 per cent compared to the same period last year. Cargo traffic at major ports stood at 299.5 million tonnes during the same period in the previous financial year.

The shipping ministry attributes the improvement in performance to several measures initiated by the ministry to improve the performance of the ports. These include mechanisation of the terminals, improving the turn-around time, quick evacuation of cargo, expansion of infrastructure and skill development of employees etc.

Murmogao Port recorded the highest growth in traffic during the first six months of FY 2016-17 (April-September), showing an increase of 61 per cent, followed by Paradip (18.3 per cent), Vishakhapatnam (11 per cent), Kandkla (7.1 per cent), Cochin (5.2 per cent), VO Chidambaranar (3.5 per cent), New Mangalore Port (3.4 per cent) and Chennai Port (0.3 per cent).

Kandla Port handled the maximum cargo during the first six months of the FY 2016-17. The Port handled 53.9 million tonnes, which is 17.1 per cent of the total cargo handled by major ports. Paradip was a close second with 42.6 million tonnes or 13.5 per cet share, followed by JNPT with 30.8 million tonnes or 9.8 p[er cent share and Mumbai Port with 30.8 million tonnes or 9.8 per cent share..

Vishakhapatnam Port handled 30.6 million tonnes of cargo (9.7 per cent) followed by Chennai 25.892 million tonnes (8.2 per cent) and VO Chidambaranar 19.3 million tonnes (6.1 per cent). New Mangalore Port handled 17.5 million tonnes (5.5 per cent) of cargo followed by Haldia Dock Complex at 16.2 million tonnes ( 5.1 per cent) and Karmajar Port 14.8 million tonnes (4.7 per cent).

The last three positions were occupied by Mormugao Port which handled 10.07 million tonnes (4.1 per cent) of cargo, Cochin Port 11.9 million tonnes (3.8 per cent) and Kolkata Dock System 7.6 million tonnes (2.4 per cent,) respectively.

Commodity-wise, the first six month of FY 2016-17 (April- September) witnessed an astounding growth in iron ore cargo, which showed a growth of 142.4 per cent. This can be attributed to re-starting of iron ore mining in Goa. POL (petroleum, oil and lubricants) exports increased by 5.8 per cent followed by other cargo at 4.6 per cent and container at 0.7 per cent as compared to the same period in 2015-16.

In terms of composition of the cargo handled at major ports, the largest commodity handled in the period of April-September 2016 was POL (37.1 per cent), followed by coal (23.4 per cent), container traffic (19.6 per cent), other cargo (11.9 per cent), iron ore (5.66 per cent) and fertilizer and FRM (2.5 per cent).