Cargo volume of minor ports in Gujarat rises 11%

During 2012-13, cargo volume at minor and intermediate ports under Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB)
expanded 11 percent to 288 million tonne (mn t) from from 259 mn t in the previous year.

There are around 21 functional minor ports under the direct control of the GMB. Cargo handling at APSEZ’s Mundra port rose 21 percent to over 82 mn t during 2012-13 compared to the volumes handled a year ago. Similarly, the ports of Magdalla, Bedi, Okha, Porbandar, Bhavnagar, Navlakhi and Dahej handled more cargo than they did in 2011-12.

However, a few minor ports including Gujarat Pipavav Port (GPPL) saw their cargo volumes dip. GPPL’s cargo volumes declined to 80 lakh tonne in 2012-13, from 91 lakh tonne a year ago. Other minor ports that saw a decline in cargo volumes include Jafrabad, Muldwarka, Mandvi and Jakhau.

The performance of minor ports is impressive considering that cargo handling at major ports across the country declined 2.6 percent during 2012-13. However, Kandla — a major port in Gujarat — registered a 13 percent growth by clocking 93 mn t of cargo volume in 2012-13.

Among the minor ports in Gujarat, Sikka outperformed all others. Sikka, that has captive jetties of GSFC and Reliance Industries and others, clocked 124 mn t cargo this year, as compared to the 118 mn t last year, states the latest data shared by GMB.