Vizhinjam International Seaport, India’s first semi-automated transshipment hub, has clocked over ₹450 crore in revenue from cargo handling within just eight months of commencing commercial operations. The milestone underscores the port’s rapid rise as a key player in India’s maritime trade.
Since launch, the port has handled 448 ships and 9.77 lakh containers, reflecting its growing appeal for large-scale cargo movement. Positioned as a game-changer for Kerala’s economy and India’s logistics infrastructure, Vizhinjam is uniquely equipped to berth mother vessels up to 400 metres in length — a capacity that until now has driven Indian cargo to foreign hubs like Colombo, Singapore and Salalah. Currently, nearly 3 million Indian containers are transshipped abroad annually, resulting in an estimated USD 220 million foreign exchange outflow.
Vizhinjam, with an existing handling capacity of 1.5 million containers annually, is expected to transform this trend. Once its next development phase is completed by 2028, capacity will expand to over 30 lakh containers per year. Plans include extending the berth length from 800 metres to 2 km, enabling simultaneous docking of four mother vessels, alongside the addition of 60 yard cranes and 20 ship-to-shore cranes. Multipurpose berths, bunkering facilities, and integrated road-rail connectivity will further boost efficiency.
On the financial front, while the Kerala government currently benefits only from GST collections of ₹75 crore, a long-term revenue-sharing agreement promises substantial returns. As per Adani Ports and SEZ’s Sunil Kumar Ayyappan, the state will start receiving 1% of Vizhinjam’s annual revenue from 2034, with the share increasing by 1% annually until it reaches 40% over a 40-year horizon — a model that could yield ₹25,000 crore for Kerala.
Industry observers say Vizhinjam’s success will not only reduce India’s dependency on foreign ports but also position Kerala as a strategic hub in global shipping routes.
