Cargo traffic at Indian ports up 2.81% in April-November 2012

Seaports in India, including major and minor ports, reported cargo throughput of 623.05 million tonnes during the first eight months of the current financial year (April-November 2012), showing a 2.81 per cent increase in volume compared to the similar period of the previous year.

Cargo handled by major ports showed a marginal deceleration to (-) 2.88 per cent in April-November 2012 from 1.33 per cent in April-November 2011. This has, however, been reversed with volumes going up by 9.28 per cent to 405.28 million tones in the April-December 2012 period from 370.85 million tones in April-December 2011, official data released by the shipping ministry showed. 

Growth in cargo volume at non-major ports has been encouraging. As compared to the growth of 9 per cent in April-November 2011, it has reached 12 per cent (estimated) in the corresponding period in 2012.

Efficiency at ports has an important bearing on the transaction cost of the shipping lines. Major ports have improved their efficiency of operation, particularly in terms of turnaround time (TRT, which is the total time spent by a ship at the ports from its entry until its departure.

Average TRT for all major ports improved from 8.10 days in 1990-91 to 4.47 days in 2011-12. During April-September 2012, the TRT at 4.15 was lower compared to 4.80 days in the corresponding period last year.

Traffic handled at major ports:

Source: Annual Report of the Ministry of Shipping