News Brief
India’s Major Ports Handle 855 Million Tonne Cargo In FY25; Paradip, Deendayal Cross 150 MT For First Time
Kandla Port in Gujarat
India’s major ports handled a record 855 million tonnes of cargo in the financial year 2024-25, marking a 4.3 per cent increase from the previous year’s 819 million tonnes, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said in a statement on Tuesday (13 May).
This is the highest cargo volume ever recorded and reflects steady growth over the past decade.
The increase was driven by strong performance in container cargo, petroleum products, coal, fertilisers, and miscellaneous goods.
Among them, petroleum, oil and lubricants (POL) accounted for the largest share at 254.5 million tonnes, followed by container cargo at 193.5 million tonnes, and coal at 186.6 million tonnes.
Fertilizer cargo rose by 13 per cent, container traffic by 10 per cent, and miscellaneous cargo by 31 per cent, compared to last year.
Two ports—Paradip and Deendayal—crossed the 150-million-tonne mark for the first time, while Jawaharlal Nehru Port handled 7.3 million containers (TEUs), registering a 13.5 per cent growth over the previous year.
A total of 962 acres of land was allotted across major ports for port-led industrial development, that is expected to generate Rs 7,565 crore in revenue during FY25.
Future investments on this land are estimated at Rs 68,780 crore, indicating strong investor confidence, according to the ministry.
Public-private partnerships also saw a sharp jump, with investments rising from Rs 1,329 crore in FY23 to Rs 3,986 crore in FY25.
Compared to a decade ago, ship handling speed improved from 12,458 tonnes per berth per day to 18,304 tonnes.
Average turnaround time for ships reduced from 96 hours to 49.5 hours, and idle time dropped from 23.1 per cent to 16.3 per cent.
The ports’ financial performance mirrored this operational progress. Total income rose to Rs 24,203 crore, up 8 per cent from the previous year, while operating surplus increased to Rs 12,314 crore, a 7 per cent rise.
Over the past ten years, total income has more than doubled and operating surplus has nearly tripled.
The operating ratio—a measure of financial efficiency—improved from 64.7 per cent in FY15 to 42.3 per cent in FY25.
Since 2014-15, cargo handled at major ports has risen from 581 million tonnes to 855 million tonnes, showing a decade-long compound growth rate of around 4 per cent.
Container volumes grew from 7.9 million TEUs to 13.5 million TEUs, a 70 per cent jump over the decade. These gains are backed by increased mechanisation, better logistics integration, and investment in digital systems like the Port Community System.
