The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Visakhapatnam News : Cargo handling: major ports put up a good show

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 07, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam

Cargo handling: major ports put up a good show

By Shakeel M. Rasheed

VISAKHAPATNAM: Major ports in the country had a good run in the recently concluded fiscal, registering a throughput in excess of 300 million tonnes for the second consecutive year.

The ports accounted for a cargo throughput of 344.52 million tonnes, marking a 9.89 per cent growth compared to the performance of 2002-03 and surpassing the target of the Ministry of Shipping of 333.75 million tonnes by 3.23 per cent.

Their combined throughput after stagnating around 281 million tonnes and 287 million tonnes during 2000-01 and 2001-02 had hit the 300 million mark during 2002-03.

The cargo throughput of the major ports during 2003-04 was bolstered by substantial increase in the movement of cargoes like POL (petroleum, oil, lube), iron ore and containers and a marginal rise in thermal coal traffic.

A significant aspect of the major ports' performance during 2003-04 was that all 13 of them registered a growth compared to their performance in the previous year, the most impressive being 24.47 per cent of New Mangalore followed by Kolkata Dock System (20.48 per cent), Mormugao (17.87 per cent) and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (16.50 per cent), according to the Indian Ports Association (IPA).

In terms of the targets set by the MoS, however, Paradip, Ennore and, interestingly, the premier Vizag port -- which posted a new national for the highest cargo throughput in the major ports sector during the year -- missed the goal by 3.78 per cent, 9.93 per cent and 2.58 per cent respectively.

With no significant increase in major cargoes like POL and fertiliser and a drop in the traffic of coking coal, thermal coal, alumina and food grains, iron ore -- its demand spurred by China --proved to be a key factor in Vizag port handling a record traffic of 47.74 million tonnes, which is way ahead of the show by its nearest and traditional competitor, Kandla port (41.52 million tonnes).

In tune with the trend over the past few years, the Chennai port occupied the third slot with 36.70 million tonnes and Haldia Dock Complex performed well to be close behind with 32.30 million tonnes, edging out Mumbai and JNPT in the process.

The Vizag port, which consolidated well the sharp rise in iron ore movement by stepping up the efficiency levels at its ore handling system, is looking to ride the demand in the new fiscal, too.

VPT sources said that no definite trends in cargo movement were as yet established in the unfolding new fiscal and that the MoS was also yet to communicate the throughput targets for 2004-05.

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