Major ports report 8% increase in volume in April-Dec 2025

Deendayal port (formerly Kandla port) topped the list with cargo volume of 116 mt, or 7 per cent growth
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS/AMIT DAVE

Traffic through India’s 12 major ports rose by 8 per cent in the first nine months of the current financial year, with all the ports posting a positive growth. The major ports, governed by the Centre, handled 672 million tonnes (mt) in total between April 1 and December 31, 2025, as against 621 mt in the same period last year.

Increased handling of containers and Petroleum, Oil and Lubricants (POL) – despite the decline in import of Russian oil – helped the major ports post 8 per cent growth. Both containers and POL handling grew at over 10 per cent, as per data from the Indian Ports Association.

Kpler’s data shows that India’s imports of Russian crude fell by 595 kbpd month-on-month (m-o-m) in December, dropping to 1.24 mbpd. This was the lowest level since December 2022, according to Kpler.

Interestingly, all major ports reported a positive growth in the first nine months. However, in the same period last year, Kolkata, New Mangalore and Mormugao ports reported a decline over the previous year.

Deendayal port (formerly Kandla port) topped the list with cargo volume of 116 mt (7 per cent growth), followed by Paradip (115 mt) and JNPA (75 mt), the data shows.

In April to December this fiscal, Mormugao port posted the highest growth though the base was small while growth rate of handling by Kamarajar (Ennore) port was the lowest.

Diversifying sourcing

POL volumes at Indian ports will primarily comprise imports of crude oil, LPG, and natural gas, along with exports of key petroleum products such as motor spirit, high-speed diesel, and aviation turbine fuel (ATF), said Prashant Vasisht, Senior Vice President and Co-Group Head, Corporate Ratings, ICRA. The decline in volumes from Russia is expected to be offset by increased crude procurement from other regions. Overall, POL volumes handled at ports will continue to grow in line with domestic demand and consumption, despite the reduction in Russian oil supplies, he told businessline.

As per ICRA analysis, POL like crude oil, LNG, and LPG, continued to hold the largest share at around 28 per cent, followed by coal at 24 per cent and containers at nearly 23 per cent. The remaining cargo comprised iron ore, fertilizers, and other commodities.

The rise in container volumes reflects the increasing containerisation of cargo in India, fueled by growing manufacturing activity, rising domestic consumption, and the e-commerce boom. Additionally, various Government of India (GoI) initiatives aimed at promoting multimodal logistics have further supported this trend, Vasisht said.

A government official said the investments made by major ports in augmentation and efficiency has been a major factor in the cargo volume growth. After the new Major Ports Act, ports are free to decide rates as per market. If service is bad non-major ports (privately run) are there in the vicinity. The market decides, he said.

Published on January 7, 2026