India’s private container terminals reported healthy cargo handling performance in October 2025, with strong showings across both the west and south coasts, indicating steady trade activity despite global headwinds.
In the South Zone, terminals at Chennai, Ennore, Tuticorin, and Kochi together handled over 4.8 lakh TEUs, led by PSA’s CICTPL at Chennai with 91,124 TEUs, followed closely by Adani’s Vizhinjam Port (AVPPL) with 92,527 TEUs — continuing its rapid ramp-up since commissioning. Other key performers included DP World’s CCTPL (71,716 TEUs), AECTPL (65,496 TEUs), and AKPPL (65,241 TEUs) at Kattupalli. Tuticorin’s DBGT handled 53,007 TEUs, while Cochin Port moved 64,026 TEUs. The newly operational Vizhinjam Port has emerged as a major transshipment contender on the southern coast.
The West Zone — home to the country’s busiest private ports — once again dominated national throughput, led by Adani Ports’ Mundra terminal cluster, which handled nearly 6.3 lakh TEUs across its facilities: AICTPL (2,74,337 TEUs), BMCTPL (2,31,293 TEUs), GTI (1,92,819 TEUs), ACMTPL (1,07,761 TEUs), and AMCT (91,422 TEUs). Other major contributors included NSIGT (86,480 TEUs), NSICT (98,571 TEUs), and NSFT (69,388 TEUs) at Nhava Sheva.
Pipavav Port (Gujarat Pipavav Port Ltd) handled 58,673 TEUs, while Kandla Port managed 60,708 TEUs. JSW Mangalore contributed 17,094 TEUs.
In the East Zone, overall throughput was modest but steady, with Adani Kolkata (52,157 TEUs) and Visakha Container Terminal (56,248 TEUs) leading performance. Haldia Dock handled 18,272 TEUs, while Paradeep (2,904 TEUs) and Kolkata Port Dock (211 TEUs) recorded smaller volumes.
Industry observers note that October’s figures reflect continued resilience in India’s export-import container trade, with west coast ports maintaining their dominance, even as new entrants like Vizhinjam begin to reshape the southern maritime landscape.
