According to www.thehindubusinessline.com, India’s major government-administered ports handled 915 million tonnes of cargo in fiscal year 2025–26 (FY26), representing a 7.06 per cent year-on-year increase. The growth was attributed to capacity expansion and efficiency gains across the port network, as confirmed by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
Top-Performing Ports
Deendayal Port Authority in Kandla emerged as the top cargo handler, managing 160.11 million tonnes — surpassing Paradip Port for the first time. Increased volumes of fertilizers, liquid cargo, and containers drove Kandla’s performance.
- Paradip Port Authority ranked second with 156.45 million tonnes, achieving 4.1 per cent growth despite declining iron ore exports.
- Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), India’s largest container port, ranked third with 102.1 million tonnes.
- Other major ports — Visakhapatnam, Mumbai, Chennai, and New Mangalore — also registered strong throughput contributions.
Drivers of Growth
The Ministry cited multiple operational and infrastructural enablers behind the record cargo volume, including:
- Capacity augmentation and modernisation of port infrastructure
- Strengthened multimodal connectivity and hinterland linkages
- Adoption of digital and smart port initiatives
- Increased handling of key commodities: coal, crude oil, containers, and fertilizers
- Improved vessel turnaround time and ease of doing business
“The record cargo handling of over 915 million tonnes by our major ports is a testament to the government’s unwavering commitment to strengthening India’s maritime sector,”
— Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
For global supply chain professionals, this data signals accelerating infrastructure readiness in India — particularly for importers and exporters relying on western and eastern coastal gateways. Kandla’s rise reflects strategic investments in bulk and liquid cargo logistics, while JNPA’s continued leadership underscores containerised trade resilience. Notably, the 7% growth outpaces India’s overall GDP growth estimate for FY26 (~6.5%), suggesting ports are acting as leading indicators of trade momentum. This aligns with broader national efforts under the Sagarmala Programme, launched in 2015, which has catalysed over ₹1.3 lakh crore in port-related investment and enabled 282 projects across port modernisation, connectivity, and port-led industrialisation. Globally, comparable port growth has been observed in Vietnam (Cai Mep–Thi Vai up 9.2% in 2025) and Saudi Arabia (Jeddah Islamic Port up 8.7%), reflecting wider Asia–Middle East infrastructure acceleration. From an operational standpoint, supply chain teams should note reduced dwell times at major Indian ports — JNPA reported average container turnaround time fell to 2.1 days in FY26 from 2.5 days in FY25 — enabling tighter inventory planning and improved inland transport coordination.
Source: www.thehindubusinessline.com
Compiled from international media by the SCI.AI editorial team.
