Shipping Industry & Ports in India

India has plans to invest US$ 82 billion in port projects by 2035.

Advantage India

Robust
Demand

*Ports sector in India is being driven by high growth in external trade.

*India’s Major Ports have achieved significant milestones in FY25, demonstrating notable progress in cargo handling, operational efficiency, and infrastructure development. Major Ports recorded a 4.3% growth in cargo handling, reaching approximately 855 million tonnes, up from 819 million tonnes in FY24.

Robust Demand

Attractive
Opportunities

*India plans to establish a new shipping company to expand its fleet by at least 1,000 ships in the next decade, aiming to reduce freight costs and capture more revenue from increasing trade, with joint ownership by state-run oil, gas, and fertilizer companies, along with the state-run Shipping Corporation of India and foreign companies, targeting a reduction of at least one-third in foreign freight outgoings by 2047.

*The Government of India is advancing Sagarmala 2.0 with Rs. 40,000 crore (US$ 4.65 billion) in support to drive Rs. 12,00,000 crore (US$ 139.49 billion) in investments from 2025 to 2035, enhancing shipbuilding, port modernisation, coastal growth, and maritime competitiveness.

Attractive Opportunities

Policy
Support

*The Union Budget 2025-26, extends the Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Policy (SBFAP) 2.0 with a Rs. 18,090 crore (US$ 2.08 billion) outlay, offering subsidies to Indian shipyards to offset costs and boost domestic shipbuilding.

*To encourage a modal shift to Inland Water Transport (IWT), the Government introduced the “Jalvahak” Cargo Promotion Scheme on December 15, 2024, offering 35% reimbursement on operational costs and launching scheduled cargo services on key NW routes. The Union Budget 2025-26 also extended the tonnage tax regime to inland vessels under the Indian Vessels Act 2021.

Policy Support

Competitive
Advantage

*India has a coastline which is more than 7,516.6 km long, interspersed with more than 200 ports.

*India’s ports sector is set for major expansion between FY23 and FY28, with an estimated annual capacity addition of 500-550 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA). This growth is primarily driven by increased handling of Petroleum, Oil, and Lubricants (POL), coal, and containerized cargo.

Competitive Advantage
Last updated: Oct, 2025

Major Ports in India

  • Kolkata
  • Paradip
  • Visakhapatnam
  • Kamarajar (Ennore)
  • Chennai
  • V.O Chidambaranar
  • Cochin
  • New Mangalore
  • Mormugao
  • Deendayal
  • Mumbai
  • J.N.P.T
Major Ports in India

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