Cargo handling at non-major ports grows

Cargo handling at non-major ports grew 10.3 per cent to 185.21 million tonne (mn t) during Apr-Sep 2012-13 from 168 mn t in the corresponding period of 2011-12.

However, cargo handling at major ports declined 3.3 per cent during the first half of 2012-13 from the year-ago period.

Consequently, cumulative cargo traffic at both major and minor ports during the six-month period ended September 2012 grew just 1.8 per cent to 455.8 million tonne, the Economic Survey 2012-13 said.

During the first six months of 2012-13, coal, container cargo, other cargo, and petroleum oil and lubricant traffic posted a growth of 3.8 per cent, 2.7 per cent, 2.4 per cent and 0.5 per cent, respectively.

The iron ore cargo traffic was affected during April-September 2012, recording a negative growth of 43.1 per cent due to ban on mining of iron ore.

Total container traffic at major ports increased in terms of tonnage by 2.7 per cent and JNPT emerged as the leading container-handling port with a 48 per cent share in terms of tonnage.

Cargo traffic or the goods transported for commercial gain increased to 455.8 mn t (April-September, 2012) from 448 mn t (April-September, 2011). The rise in cargo traffic during the same period last fiscal was 5 per cent.

There are 12 major ports in India — Mumbai, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), Kolkata (with Haldia), Chennai, Cochin, Paradip, New Mangalore, Marmagao, Ennore, Tuticorin, Kandla and Visakhapatnam.