NEW DELHI: A drop of 75% in iron ore imports, followed by a 25% dip in fertilisers, has drastically impacted the total business of the 12 major Indian ports in April 2015, compared with the corresponding period last year. Petroleum, oil and lubricants (POL) imports also reported a 9.5% drop due to fluctuating prices in the global arena.
On the other hand, ports handled 58% more thermal and coking coal during April 2015, a showing that helped the dozen major ports record a net increase of 1.06% over the previous year, at 47.88m tonnes.
Kamarajar (formerly Ennore) port led the show with an increase of 26.5% in thermal coal and POL. Chennai, Jawaharlal Nehru port (JNPT) and Kandla also reported a marginal increase in imports of POL. Haldia Dock and V.O. Chidambaranar (formerly Tuticorin) port handled more coal and bulk cargoes.
“However, volumes are set to increase over the coming months,” said a Chennai port official. “More power projects will be going on stream, and the country will be requiring more coal and iron ore. Also, we are talking here only about the major ports. A lot of export-import business happens through private ports, as well, though it is not reported.”
