Indian Ports Association (IPA) is optimistic about a turn around for major ports in the current quarter of the financial year after a dismal first quarter that saw cargo throughput falling as much as 20 per cent at some of the ports.
Vishakapatnam port registered a fall of more than 20 per cent in cargo throughput during the April-June period this year in comparison to the first quarter last financial year. Paradip and Mormugao saw nearly 20 per cent fall.
Ennore port, helped by diversion of dusty cargo from Chennai, was a striking exception with a growth of nearly 35 per cent.
The fall in cargo throughput is largely because of the world-wide lull in the movement of petrol, oil and lubricants; iron ore and fertilizers, said the Managing Director of IPA A. Janardhana Rao on Thursday.
He told The Hindu from Delhi that the fall should be associated with the larger economic picture and the continuing troubles in the Euro zone and in the United States.
The second quarter would be better for the major ports. Measures like higher efficiency, more cargo handling equipment and deepening of shipping channels will result in more cargo coming to the major ports, he said.
Cargo movement through Kolkata Dock System and Haldia Dock Complex fell more than 12 and 16 per cent respectively during the first quarter. Chennai port registered a fall of nearly 10 per cent cargo throughput for the period.
Cargo movement at JNPT grew by less than two per cent. Mumbai and Kochi ports showed a growth of more than 13 per cent each. V. O. Chidambaranar port clocked a growth of 3.81 per cent while cargo growth at the New Mangalore and Kandla ports was less than one per cent.
Figures released by IPA showed that there was a fall of more than six per cent in the movement of Petroleum products and more than 30 per cent fall in iron ore movements. Finished fertilizer movement showed a fall of more than 30 per cent and raw fertilizers a fall of more than 20 per cent during the April-June period this year.
