A drop of 75 per cent in iron ore imports, followed by 25 per cent in fertilizers drastically impacted the total business of major ports in April 2015, compared with the corresponding period last year. Petroleum, oil and lubricants imports also reported 9.5 per cent drop, due to fluctuating rates in the global arena.
On the other hand, ports handled 58 per cent more thermal and cooking coal during April 2015. In all, major ports reported a marginal 1.06 increase over the previous year at 47.88 million tonnes.
Among the ports, Kamarajar led the show with an increase of 26.50 per cent in thermal coal and POL. Chennai Port, JNPT and Kandla Port also reported a marginal increase in imports of POL. Haldia Dock and V.O. Chidambaranar Port handled more coal and bulk cargoes.
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During the period under review, Visakhapatnam and New Mangalore Port reported two-digit decline in total cargo volume, compared with the previous period. “The Ministry has set 691 million tonnes as target for the current fiscal. However, a mere one per cent increase in total cargo volume does not augur well for the industry. Going by the current rate, it will not be possible even to touch the last year figure,” said a port analyst. However, a Chennai Port official said: “Volume is set to increase in the coming months. More power projects will be going on stream and the country will be requiring coal and iron ore. Here, we are talking only about major ports. Exim business happens through private ports too. But, they are not reported.”