Growth in India's Major State-Owned Ports
India's smaller state-owned ports are experiencing robust growth driven by improved connectivity, capacity upgrades, and demand for specific commodities.
Cargo Statistics FY26
- The 12 major ports handled 437.43 million tonnes (mt) of cargo, a 5.75% increase from the previous year.
- Overseas cargo increased by 5.2% to 336.47 mt, while coastal shipments rose by 7.6% to 100.97 mt.
- Fertiliser imports surged by 108%, container traffic grew by 13.9%, and Petroleum, Oil, and Lubricants (POL) maintained a 29% share with a 6.4% growth.
Performance of Smaller Ports
- Mormugao experienced a cargo throughput increase of 14.5%.
- Chennai saw growth of 8%, and New Mangalore grew by 7.26%.
Factors Influencing Port Growth
- Growth was commodity-specific with coal at Mormugao, iron ore at New Mangalore, and containers at Chennai.
- Chennai and JNPT benefited from a pre-tariff surge in US-bound container shipments.
- Capacity expansion, berth mechanisation, and better rail connectivity enhanced cargo-handling efficiency.
Environmental and Infrastructure Improvements
Mormugao's growth was aided by relaxed coal-handling restrictions, improved pollution-control investments, and the construction of enclosed warehouses and covered sheds to curb coal dust emissions.
Impact of Fertiliser Imports
- Fertiliser imports rose sharply due to a decrease in domestic diammonium phosphate (DAP) production.
- The government has encouraged Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) to increase imports due to reliance on imported raw materials like phosphoric acid and ammonia.
Uneven Growth Patterns
- While major ports like Paradip, Deendayal, JNPT, and Kolkata drove growth, seven out of twelve major ports reported less than 5% growth.
September 2025 Performance
- Cargo movement accelerated with total throughput rising 11.5% year-on-year to 73.13 mt.
- Deendayal handled 13.08 mt, followed by Paradip and JNPT.
