Cargo handling at 12 major ports of the country falls by 4.59% to 673 MT in FY21

According to Indian Ports Association (IPA), the apex body of ports, cargo handling declined by 4.59% in the just-concluded financial year at 672.60 million in the just-concluded financial year, due to disruptions caused by COVID-19. The tonnage (MT) fell.

These ports handled 705 MT, 699 MT and 679 MT cargo in 2019-20, 2018-19 and 2017-18 respectively.

Recently, Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Mansukh Mandavia stated that cargo traffic at 12 major ports has declined since March due to the adverse effects of the COVID-19 epidemic.

The IPA stated in its latest report that during April to March 2021 there was a decline of 4.59% in “the variation of traffic between April to March 2020 at large ports during March to March 2021”.

In the wake of the epidemic, a sharp decline in handling of containers, coal and POL (petroleum, oil and lubricants) was observed, among other items.

All ports of Paradip and Mormugao (which recorded 114.54 MT and 21.95 MT in cargo handling with growth of 1.65% and 37.06% respectively) saw negative growth.

Cargo handling at Kamaraj Port (Ennore) dipped by 18.46% to 25.88 MT during April-March 2021, while ports like Mumbai and VO Chidambaranar saw their cargo volumes fall by more than 10% during the said period.

Cochin, New Mangalore and Chennai ports faced sharp declines of around 7%.

JNPT saw a 5.32% drop in cargo volume, while Deendayal Port Trust and Kolkata Ports reported a more than 4% drop in cargo volume. Cargo handling in Visakhapatnam slipped 3.96%.

India has 12 major ports under central government control – Deendayal (then Kandla), Mumbai, JNPT, Mormugao, New Mangalore, Cochin, Chennai, Kamarajar (formerly Ennore), VO Chidambaranar, Visakhapatnam, Paradip and Kolkata (including Haldia).

These ports handle about 61% of the country’s total freight traffic.