The Hindu Business Line : Kochi port registers 6.74 pc rise in cargo handling

THE Kochi port has registered a 6.74 per cent increase in cargo handling in the first seven months of the current fiscal compared with the corresponding period last year.

During period between April and November this year, the port has handled 9.5 million tonnes against 8.9 mt during the corresponding period last year, Dr Jacob Thomas, Chairman of the port said.

Keeping up its commitment to delivering quality service to the customers, the port is reaching higher realms in performance. This is evident from the traffic volumes for the period April-November this year against the previous year, he added.

The container traffic has also registered an increase of 13.36 per cent as the port handled 1.23 lakh TEUs during the period against 1.08 lakh TEUs. Items of cargo that have notched up major increases are POL products, crude, rock phosphate and containerised cargo items. Increase of considerable nature is noticed in the export of cashew kernels, coir products, tea, wood products and chemicals, which has reflected in container traffic growth.

According to the Chairman, the port had recently encountered rough weather when it experienced congestion in the container terminal and damage to the rail bridge. Thanks to the measures adopted for de-congesting the terminal, the terminal operations are better than normal and at this rate the port stand to handle above 1.9 lakh TEUs to 2 lakh TEUs by the close of this fiscal year, he added.