India’s maritime sector has recorded a landmark year, with Major Ports handling a historic high of 855 million tonnes of cargo in FY 2024-25 — up from 819 million tonnes in the previous year. This 4.3% annual growth marks a new era of capacity, efficiency, and strategic relevance for the country’s ports.
According to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, this surge reaffirms the scalability of Indian ports in managing rising global and domestic trade volumes.
Cargo Growth Drivers:
The year’s growth was propelled by significant increases across key cargo categories:
- Container traffic surged by 10%
- Fertilizer cargo up 13%
- POL (Petroleum, Oil & Lubricants) increased by 3%
- Miscellaneous cargo jumped 31%
Cargo Composition Breakdown
- POL led the charts at 254.5 million tonnes (29.8% of total)
- Containers followed with 193.5 million tonnes (22.6%)
- Coal handled stood at 186.6 million tonnes (21.8%)
- Other significant commodities: iron ore, pellets, and fertilizers
Key Port Performances
- Paradip Port Authority (PPA) and Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) each crossed 150 million tonnes — a first in Indian port history
- Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) handled 7.3 million TEUs, a 13.5% YoY growth, reinforcing its position as a top container hub
Infrastructure & Investment Momentum
- 962 acres of port land allocated in FY 2024-25 (₹7,565 crore estimated value)
- Projected investment potential of ₹68,780 crore for future infra/industrial projects
- PPP investments tripled:
- FY 2022-23: ₹1,329 crore
- FY 2024-25: ₹3,986 crore
Efficiency on the Rise
- Pre-Berthing Detention Time improved by 36%
- Output per Ship Berth Day (OSBD) rose to 18,304 tonnes (up from 12,458 tonnes a decade ago)
- Average Turnaround Time (TRT) reduced from 96 hours to 49.5 hours
- Idle Time dropped to 16.3%, from 23.1%
Strong Financial Performance
- 📈 Total income rose by 8% to ₹24,203 crore (from ₹22,468 crore in FY 2023-24)
- Operating surplus increased by 7% to ₹12,314 crore
- Operating ratio improved significantly from 64.7% to 42.3%
Government’s Vision
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal hailed these achievements as a testament to “transformational leadership” and the collaborative spirit of the Ministry, port authorities, and industry stakeholders. He emphasized that India is building sustainable, globally competitive ports to power its trade ambitions.
📈 A Decade of Transformation
- Cargo handled by Major Ports rose from 581 million tonnes in FY 2014-15 to 855 million tonnes in FY 2024-25
- Containerized cargo up 70%, from 7.9 million TEUs to 13.5 million TEUs
- Total income more than doubled from ₹11,760 crore to ₹24,203 crore
- CAGR over 10 years:
- Cargo: ~4%
- Operating surplus: 13%
- Income: 7.5%
India’s port sector is no longer just evolving — it’s leading. Stay tuned for more updates as we track the journey toward a truly world-class maritime ecosystem.
