India’s private ports continued to outperform those owned by the central government in 2023-24 (FY24), registering double-digit growth compared to a 4.45 per cent growth for major ports, according to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways data.
At 721 million tonnes (mt), non-major ports saw their cargo increase by 11.18 per cent year-on-year in the previous financial year. In contrast, major ports ended FY24 handling 818 mt of goods.
Major ports are those owned by the central government through the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, while non-major ports are owned by state governments and private players.
The growth for non-major ports was primarily led by thermal coal, which accounts for 7 per cent of the total volumes of these ports. At 51 mt, thermal coal cargo grew by 53 per cent in the previous financial year. Iron ore, after a subdued 2022-23, also grew by 44 per cent in FY24.
For major ports, growth primarily came through crude oil (5.05 per cent up), thermal coal (up 4.72 per cent), and iron ore (28 per cent).
While private ports under the Gujarat Maritime Board registered a combined growth of 7.9 per cent, the traffic handled by the Deendayal Port (Kandla) conversely saw a 4.2 per cent contraction in its cargo volumes at 131 mt. This was driven by a nearly 5 per cent contraction in its overseas cargo.
Major private ports such as the Mundra Port, Pipavav, and Hazira come under the Gujarat Maritime Board.
The Kandla Port also lost its tag as the largest cargo-carrying major port in India, as Odisha’s Paradip Port handled 145 mt of cargo, against Kandla’s 131 mt.
