India's Major Ports Hit Record 915 MT Cargo, Surpass FY25-26 Target

India's Major Ports achieved a record 915.17 million tonnes of cargo handling in FY 2025-26, exceeding the annual target. This represents a strong 7.06% year-on-year growth, highlighting the sector's recovery and enhanced efficiency. The performance is attributed to transformative reforms and strategic investments in modernising port infrastructure. The government aims to strengthen India's position as a leading global maritime nation under its long-term vision.

Key Points: India's Major Ports Handle Record 915 MT Cargo, Grow 7.06%

  • Surpassed 904 MT target
  • 7.06% year-on-year growth
  • Deendayal Port top performer
  • Driven by infrastructure modernisation
  • Supports Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047
3 min read

Major Ports record 915 million tonnes cargo in FY 2025-26, surpass target with 7.06% growth

India's Major Ports surpass target, handling 915.17 MT cargo in FY 2025-26 with 7.06% growth, driven by modernisation under Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision.

"This achievement reinforces our resolve to position India as a global maritime powerhouse. - Sarbananda Sonowal"

New Delhi, April 5

In a significant achievement for India's maritime sector, the Major Ports under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways have collectively handled 915.17 million tonnes of cargo during FY 2025-26, surpassing the annual target of 904 MT.

This marks a year-on-year growth of 7.06 per cent, reaffirming the sector's strong recovery, enhanced efficiency, and sustained growth trajectory, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways reported.

This milestone underscores the impact of transformative reforms and strategic investments undertaken by the Government of India to modernise port infrastructure, enhance logistics efficiency, and strengthen India's position as a leading maritime nation under the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, said, "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. Guided by the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we are building world-class port infrastructure, improving efficiency, and enabling seamless logistics to support India's growing economy. This achievement reinforces our resolve to position India as a global maritime powerhouse under the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047."

The performance reflects consistent growth across major ports, with Deendayal Port Authority emerging as the top performer at 160.11 MT, followed by Paradip Port Authority at 156.45 MT, and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) at 102.01 MT.

Other key ports, including Visakhapatnam Port Authority, Mumbai Port Authority, Chennai Port Authority, and New Mangalore Port Authority also registered strong performance, contributing significantly to the overall cargo throughput.

In terms of growth rate, Mormugao Port Authority recorded the highest increase at 15.91 per cent, followed by Kolkata Dock System at 14.28 per cent and JNPA at 10.74 per cent, reflecting improved efficiency and rising cargo volumes.

The sustained growth in cargo handling has been driven by capacity augmentation and modernisation of port infrastructure, strengthened multimodal connectivity and seamless hinterland linkages, adoption of digital and smart port initiatives, increased handling of key commodities including coal, crude oil, containers, fertilizers, and POL, as well as improved turnaround time and ease of doing business across ports. The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways continues to advance a comprehensive maritime strategy focused on port-led development, logistics integration, and sustainability.

The record performance in FY 2025-26 reflects growing trade confidence and the effectiveness of policy measures aimed at enhancing operational efficiency and capacity utilisation. With sustained policy momentum and infrastructure investments, India's Major Ports are well-positioned to further scale new milestones and contribute significantly to the nation's economic growth and global trade leadership.

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Great to see the numbers, but I hope this efficiency and investment also translates to better road and rail connectivity from these ports. Sometimes the cargo gets stuck just outside the gate. Infrastructure development needs to be holistic.
V
Vikram M
The 7%+ growth is solid. As someone in logistics, the digital initiatives and reduced turnaround time are a game-changer. It makes doing business smoother. Hope they keep focusing on the ease of doing business metrics.
S
Sarah B
This is a significant achievement for India's trade capabilities. The mention of Mormugao and Kolkata Dock having the highest growth rates is interesting—shows development is spreading across different regions. Good for balanced economic growth.
R
Rohit P
Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 seems to be on track! Surpassing 900 MT is a big milestone. Now we need to ensure this growth is sustainable and environmentally conscious. Ports should also lead in green initiatives.
K
Karthik V
While the numbers are good, I have a respectful criticism. The article and minister's quote are very self-congratulatory. It would be good to also hear about the challenges ahead and the plan for the minor ports, which handle a lot of cargo too. Overall progress is positive though.
A
Ananya R

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50