Major sea ports handled 95.87 million tonnes of cargo during April and May 2014 against 91.48 million tonnes handled during the corresponding period last year, an increase of 4.8 per cent.

Of the 13 major ports, Kandla led the pack with 15.31 million tonnes followed by Paradip 11.73 million tonnes. However, when compared with the previous year, Kandla Port registered a decline of 0.40 per cent in total volumes due to fall in iron ore, containers and fertilisers.

JNPT and Visakhapatnam shared the third and fourth slot with volumes of over 10 million tonnes. Chennai slipped to the sixth position, and it was overtaken by Mumbai port.

Growth-wise, Mormugao Port posted 24.48 per cent, followed by Mumbai Port 14.35 per cent, Kamarajar Port 13.90 per cent, V.O. Chidambaranar Port 13.67 per cent and Kolkata Dock System 12.36 per cent. Rest of the ports posted growth in single digit.

New Mangalore Port and Haldia Dock Complex also registered negative growth, according to Indian Ports Association.

During the last two months, Indian ports handled 1.28 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) of containers against 1.24 million tonnes in the corresponding period last year.

Financial loss

“Last year, we posted a loss of Rs.174 crore due to payment of wage arrears, special VRS and drop in total cargo. In the coming years, we will focus on containers, cars, metcoke and project cargoes. The development of outer harbour will bring back the necessary volume,” said Chennai Port Chairman Atulya Misra.

Kamarajar Port continued to record fastest growth in cargo. “Last year, we grew by 53 per cent and in the first two months, we grew by nearly 14 per cent. This augurs well for the port,” said its Chairman and Managing Director, M. A. Bhaskarachar.