India's major ports' cargo handling up 4.3% to 855 MT in FY25, driven by container, POL traffic

In FY 2024-25, India's major ports registered an annual growth rate of 4.3% in cargo handling, increasing from 819 million tonnes in FY 2023-24 to 855 million tonnes in FY 2024-25. The growth highlights the capacity of these ports in accommodating rising trade volumes. The increase in traffic was driven by higher container throughput (10%), fertiliser cargo handling (13%), POL cargo handling (3%), and handling of miscellaneous commodities (31%) compared to the previous fiscal year.

Among commodities handled at these ports, petroleum, oil, and lubricants (POL), including crude, petroleum products, and LPG/LNG, led the charts with a volume of 254.5 million tonnes (29.8%), followed by container traffic at 193.5 million tonnes (22.6%), coal at 186.6 million tonnes (21.8%), and other cargo categories such as iron ore, pellets, fertilisers, and more in FY 2024-25.

For the first time in the history of major ports, the Paradip Port Authority (PPA) and Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) surpassed the 150-million-tonne cargo handling mark, reinforcing their status as key hubs of maritime trade and operational performance. Meanwhile, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) set a record by handling 7.3 million TEUs, reflecting a 13.5% year-on-year growth.

In FY 2024-25, Indian ports collectively allocated 962 acres of land for port-led industrialisation, projected to generate an income of ₹7,565 crore in FY 2024-25. Furthermore, lessees are expected to make future investments of ₹68,780 crore on the allotted land, reaffirming investor confidence in port-led development. Private sector participation has been instrumental in this change, with investments in PPP projects at major ports increasing from ₹1,329 crore in FY 2022-23 to ₹3,986 crore in FY 2024-25.

Operational performance continued to improve in FY 2024-25, with Pre-Berthing Detention (PBD) Time (on port account) improving by around 36% compared to FY 2023-24. Financially, major ports witnessed an 8% increase in total income in FY 2024-25, rising to ₹24,203 crore from ₹22,468 crore in FY 2023-24. Similarly, operating surplus grew 7% to ₹12,314 crore in FY 2024-25 from ₹11,512 crore in FY 2023-24.

Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal said the ministry has worked to modernise port infrastructure, enhance operational efficiency, and foster private sector participation, paving the way for growth in India's maritime sector.

Between FY 2014-15 and FY 2024-25, cargo volumes surged from 581 million tonnes to approximately 855 million tonnes, reflecting a CAGR of 4%. Containerised cargo saw a 70% increase over the decade, from 7.9 million TEUs in FY 2014-15 to 13.5 million TEUs in FY 2024-25.

Major ports' financial performance has been strong, with total income more than doubling over the past decade from ₹11,760 crore in FY 2014-15 to ₹24,203 crore in FY 2024-25, registering a 7.5% CAGR over 10 years. Operating surplus nearly tripled to ₹12,314 crore, driven by a 13% CAGR over the same period. Operational efficiency also improved, with the operating ratio declining from 64.7% in FY 2014-15 to 42.3% in FY 2024-25.