Indian major port April-July container volume flat at 2.62 million TEU

INDIA's major ports, which are 12 state-owned ports, handled an estimated aggregate total of 2.62 million TEU between April and July, the first four months of fiscal 2012-13, indicating that throughput was flat compared to the same period a year earlier, according to provisional figures from the Indian Ports Association.

Cargo tonnage from April to end July dropped by nearly five per cent year-on-year to 183.7 million tons, down from 193.1 million tons a year earlier.

On the other hand, the main ports' total containerised cargo volume during the period under review increased 3.2 per cent year on year to 41 million tons, according to the Hindu daily.

A breakdown of the results show that India's top container port, Jawaharlal Nehru Port (Nhava Sheva), posted a flat performance with a 1.44 million TEU throughput.

Chennai Port's container throughput declined three per cent to 537,000 TEU. Kolkata's box throughput rose 12 per cent to 202,000 TEU, up from 180,000 TEU, while Tuticorin's volume increased slightly to 157,000 TEU, up from 155,000 TEU.

Cochin saw its container volume plunge 10 per cent compared to the same four months a year earlier to 109,000 TEU. Mumbai Port posted flat results at 19,000 TEU.

In terms of cargo tonnage, Kandla handled the most with 29.2 million tons, followed by Nehru's 22.2 million tons; Visakhapatnam's 20.6 million tons; Mumbai's 19.7 million tons; and Chennai's 18.4 million tons.