Paradip port has handled an all-time high cargo of 68 million tonnes in 2013-14, driven by higher movement of thermal coal, petroleum products, coking coal and iron ore exports.

The volumes show an over 20 per cent growth against the 56.55 million tonne (mt) cargo handled by the port in the previous fiscal.

Prior to this, the highest cargo volume it has handled was 57.1 mt in 2008-09.

“We have registered 68.003 million tonne cargo, which reflects a growth of over 20 per cent,” Paradip Port Chairman Sudhanshu Shekhar Mishra told Business Line .

The average growth registered by all major ports is in the 1-2 per cent range.

Break-up

The port handled 25.03 mt of thermal coal (showing almost 17 per cent growth over the previous year) and 17.7 mt of petroleum products (up 7.51 per cent).

The volume of coking coal was at 7.04 mt (up 43 per cent) and 5.59 mt of iron ore exports (205 per cent growth).

Surplus capacity

Unlike some other ports that are congested, Paradip Port has “surplus capacity”, which works to its advantage, said the port chairman.

The port has a capacity to handle 108.5 million tonne of cargo every year.

In the current fiscal, the Shipping Ministry has set a target of 68 mt for Paradip port, the same level as last year’s.

comment COMMENT NOW