Pipavav Port eyes recovery in containers; liquids & RoRo to boost market share

Pipavav Port management expects to end the year at -2% to 0% on containers
| Photo Credit:
KSL

Gujarat Pipavav Port Ltd. is bracing for a gradual recovery in container volumes even as it continues to lose market share in the category due to tariff-related disruptions from the US. However, the company is strengthening its position in liquids, RoRo and fertiliser cargo, which are emerging as its key growth engines.

The port’s container performance weakened in the first half of the year, primarily because of the fall in US-linked cargo. The Managing Director of the company, Girish Aggarwal, said, “I think, overall, in the first half (of this financial year) we are down by five per cent on the container volume, largely down in this quarter. Last quarter was broadly flat. This quarter, we declined by nine per cent essentially because of the US tariffs, where we’ve seen significant de-growth in some of the services.”

Aggarwal expects the situation to stabilise in the near term. “Broadly, we are now seeing some slight recovery. I expect container volumes to grow slightly in this quarter… and then the next quarter to have some recovery. Overall, this year, we should end at -2 per cent to 0 per cent on containers,” he added. 

US connect

Even though the Gujarat region grew six per cent in the July–September quarter of FY26, Pipavav Port in the State under-performed due to its exposure to tariff-affected services. “We show a decline essentially because some of our services, which cater to the US cargo, showed decline and that was the large reason why we were unable to kind of grow,” Aggarwal told investors earlier this month. Container volumes in the lone major port in Gujarat – Kandla – grew by 61 per cent till November 27, this fiscal.

While containers struggle, the liquids segment continues to outperform and is operating close to full capacity at Pipavav. “We are gaining market share largely on the liquids, RoRo, and the fertilizer business. Container, RoRo and liquid would be the three key drivers of our growth over the next 3 years,” he added.

The official said that the US tariff-induced headwinds have begun to fade and the sentiment on tariff negotiations has improved. Reiterating that the port has been losing share in containers, he said Pipavav was poised for recovery. “I think on the container side we’ve been losing market. The latest performance this quarter is essentially because of the tariffs imposed by the US. That has led to reduction in our volumes on our West-bound cargo or services… we are hearing news which are positive about resolution of the tariff situation between India and the United States and that will have a positive impact.”

Published on November 30, 2025