The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Kakinada port handles highest cargo

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 10, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version


=

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Kakinada port handles highest cargo

Staff Reporter

Kakinada: The anchorage port of Kakinada handled 40,19,025 tonnes of cargo in 2007-08, which was the highest in the last seven years. The revenue generated (Rs. 20 crore) was also highest in the same period (2001-02 to 2007-08).

But, the existing ban on export of rice and maize has already made a severe dent in its performance this year. It was able to handle only 14,78,872 tonnes up to August 31, 2008. Unless the ban goes, the anchorage port will not be able to regain the lost ground. The average cargo handled is 15,000 metric tonnes per day, according to official sources.

A total of 304 ships called at the port last year. The second highest figures are: 37,83,248 tonnes cargo handled, 258 ships called and Rs 14.31 crore was the revenue, all in 2006-07. Rice accounted for almost 70 per cent of the exports (20,25,077 tonnes) in 2007-08. Maize, rice bran extraction, cement, corn, soybean meal extraction, sand and bitumen were the other exported items, the grand total of exports being 29,27,627 tonnes.

Urea tops list

Urea topped the list of commodities imported at 5,01,065 tonnes (46 %). It was followed by MOP, rock phosphate, industrial salt, project materials, peas and empty containers. The total imports stood at 10,91,398 tonnes.

The main exports from this port are rice, wheat, sugar, cement and various agricultural products to the Philippines, Indonesia, West Africa and Bangladesh. Fertilizers, rock phosphate, industrial salt etc are the commodities imported from Russia, Jordan and UAE. Cargo is transported through privately owned 400 tonne capacity steel barges numbering about 100. The port has requisite backup infrastructure such as warehouses, a open stack yard, railway sidings etc capable of handling four million tonnes per annum.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh