India’s Major Ports Set New Record: 915 Million Tonnes Cargo Handled in FY 2025–26
Maritime Milestone: India’s Major Ports Surpass Cargo Targets in FY 2025–26
India’s maritime sector has reached a historic high, with its 12 major ports collectively handling 915.17 million tonnes (MT) of cargo during the Financial Year (FY) 2025–26. This performance not only exceeded the government's annual target of 904 MT but also registered a robust year-on-year growth of 7.06%.
Top Performing Hubs
The surge in trade was led by a few key strategic ports that served as the backbone of India’s export-import (EXIM) operations:
- Deendayal Port Authority (Gujarat): Remained the top performer, handling a staggering 160.11 MT.
- Paradip Port Authority (Odisha): Followed closely with 156.45 MT, showing significant efficiency in bulk cargo.
- Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA, Maharashtra): Crossed the century mark with 102.01 MT, leading in container traffic.
Growth Drivers: Technology and Efficiency
The record growth is attributed to the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 and several key operational reforms:
- Digital Transformation: The adoption of "One-Nation-One-Process" (ONOP) and indigenously developed harbour management systems reduced paperwork and human error.
- Turnaround Time: Strategic investments in mechanization have slashed ship turnaround times to less than 1 day, compared to over 4 days a decade ago.
- Infrastructure: Completion of various projects under the Sagarmala Programme has enhanced multimodal connectivity between ports and the hinterland.
The Strategic Roadmap
India currently operates 12 major ports (with the 13th mega-port at Vadhavan, Maharashtra currently under development). These ports handle approximately 95% of India’s trade by volume. The shift toward AI-powered "Intelligent Ports" and green shipping initiatives is expected to push these numbers even higher in the coming fiscal years.
For TNPSC and competitive exam aspirants, these statistics are vital for "Geography of India" and "Economic Development" topics, highlighting India's rising status as a global maritime power.
