Cargo movement linked to crude oil and LPG has declined at New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA) in the wake of the ongoing crisis in West Asia, though port officials say the overall impact on operations remains limited.
Sources at the port said traffic related to crude oil and LPG has dropped by around 30–40 per cent compared to normal levels, with the sharpest decline seen in crude imports.
“There was definitely an impact. The numbers were reduced compared to regular days. The main impact was seen in crude oil and LPG,” a source said.
Officials explained that crude oil cargo movement is influenced by several factors, including refinery processing capacity and demand from the hinterland. At present, most crude oil received at the port is transported to Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) for refining before being distributed across Karnataka and nearby regions.
According to sources, MRPL has recently diversified its crude sourcing. While the refinery traditionally relied on supplies from Middle Eastern countries such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq, it is now also importing crude from the United States, Venezuela and Nigeria.
Industry competition is another factor influencing crude imports. Major energy companies such as Reliance Industries, Nayara Energy, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited operate their own refineries in different states and directly import crude oil for processing.
LPG cargo movement is also linked to crude oil refining since LPG is a by-product generated during the refining process. As a result, any change in crude processing volumes can affect LPG cargo movement as well. However, refinery operators typically maintain sufficient storage and backup reserves to manage short-term fluctuations.
Apart from crude oil and LPG, most other cargo segments at the port have remained largely unaffected, with shipments of coal and iron ore continuing as usual. However, exports to several West Asian markets have seen some disruption due to the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region.
