Dhamra port cargo volume up 23% in April-June

Adani Group-controlled Dhamra port, a deep draught port off the coast of north Odisha, has posted 22.88% growth in its total cargo volume, in the April-June quarter of this fiscal. The port's total cargo moved up from 4.37 million tonne (mnt) to 5.37 mnt.

Rebound in iron ore traffic and import cargo comprising limestone and coking coal contributed to the growth in cargo volumes.

The port staged a revival in cargo throughput this fiscal compared to FY16 when its total cargo was down 5%. It handled a total traffic of 14.66 million tonne (mt) in last fiscal as against 15.4 mt logged in FY 15. The port has two fully mechanised berths with a combined cargo handling capacity of 25 million tonne per annum (mtpa).

Of the total cargo of 5.37 mnt, imports accounted for 3.88 mnt and exports stood at 1.49 mnt.

On a consolidated basis, Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) registered 7% year-on-year growth in cargo throughout. Ports owned by APSEZ on the eastern coast, especially Dhamra port, have logged a stellar performance.

With the exception of Mormugao port, Dhamra has outperformed all the major ports in terms of cargo growth. Mormugao port's cargo saw a spike of 85% in April-July period, fuelled mainly by rebound in iron ore traffic. Major ports in the eastern sector like Paradeep and Visakhapatnam, recorded increase of 17.7% and 13.17% respectively, riding on gains in iron ore and POL (petroleum, oil and liquid cargo) traffic. Other major ports like Mumbai, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) and Kolkata coped with de-growth in overall cargo during the period.

Dhamra port has now firmed up plans to expand its cargo handling capacity and diversify to liquid cargo and containers to cut down on its dependence on export traffic. The port promoters intend to invest Rs 10,000 crore on the second phase expansion that will see its cargo throughput capacity expanding four fold to 100 mt per annum.

Dhamra Port Company Ltd (DPCL) has got advance possession of 686 acres from the Odisha government to pursue expansion.

After the expansion, the port will be capable of handling clean cargo, containers, liquid cargo, LNG, containerized cargo and crude oil. Though DPCL had readied its second phase expansion plan, getting land was the key hurdle to go ahead in its plan.