Traffic handled by major Indian ports hit a 5-year high in January.

In the previous month, India's major ports experienced a substantial uptick in cargo handling, reaching a total throughput of 72.5 million tonnes, the highest since February 2019. This marks a 60% increase from the pandemic low of 45.45 million tonnes recorded in May 2020. While major ports under central government control demonstrated a 3.2% year-on-year growth in January 2024, non-major ports governed by state authorities or private entities exhibited a more robust performance with an 11.1% growth, totaling 61.6 million tonnes. Notably, petroleum oil, lubricants, and coal dominated the port traffic, constituting 52.9% of the total in January 2024.

Despite these strides, the government recognizes the need for further development in water transport, which currently contributes only 6% to India's overall transportation mix, compared to 12.4% in the US and 47% in China. To address this gap and enhance logistical efficiency, the government is actively implementing the Sagarmala Programme, optimizing coastal shipping and reducing logistics costs nationwide.

Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.