India’s Major Ports: India’s big government-run ports had a very strong year in FY 2025-26. Together, they handled 915.17 million tonnes of cargo. This is the highest ever and it also went past the full-year target of 904 million tonnes, reported Ministry of Ports. The growth was 7.06% from the year before. This shows that trade stayed active and port work stayed strong across the country.
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said this big number came after many changes in the port sector. Better systems, stronger port facilities, and faster cargo movement helped India reach this new mark. The government also sees this as part of its bigger Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 plan, which is meant to make India a stronger maritime country in the coming years.
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Government Push for Ports
This strong result did not happen by chance. The government has been working on port upgrades for some time. New infrastructure, better cargo handling, and smoother logistics have all helped. There has also been a push to make business easier and reduce delays at ports. Because of this, cargo is moving faster and ports are working in a better way than before.
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, said, “The record cargo handling of over 915 million tonnes by our Major Ports is a testament to the Government’s unwavering commitment to strengthening India’s maritime sector. Guided by the vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, we are building world-class port infrastructure, improving efficiency, and enabling seamless logistics to support India’s growing economy. This achievement reinforces our resolve to position India as a global maritime powerhouse under the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.”
Port with the most work
Some ports played a very big part in this record year. Deendayal Port Authority handled the most cargo at 160.11 million tonnes. Paradip Port Authority came next with 156.45 million tonnes. Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, also called JNPA, handled 102.01 million tonnes. Other ports like Visakhapatnam, Mumbai, Chennai, and New Mangalore also gave strong support and added a lot to the final total.
A few ports also grew very fast in percentage terms. Mormugao Port Authority showed the highest growth at 15.91%. Kolkata Dock System followed with 14.28% growth. JNPA also posted strong growth at 10.74%.
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Why did Cargo went up this Year?
There are many reasons behind this rise. Port capacity has gone up because of modernization work. Rail, road, and other transport links have become better, so cargo can move in and out more easily. Digital systems and smart port tools have also helped cut delays and make work smoother. ports handled many kinds of goods like coal, crude oil, containers, fertilizers, and POL. Better turnaround time also helped ships spend less time waiting.
