Container cargo handling at major ports down over 30% in Q1 amid Covid: IPA

In terms of tonnage, the container cargo declined 30.11 per cent to 26.34 million tonnes in the quarter

Container cargo handling at India's major ports tumbled by over 30 per cent during the April-June quarter of the current financial year, mainly because of the coronavirus pandemic, show data released by the Indian Ports' Association (IPA).

Container cargo in terms of TEUs (twenty foot equivalent unit) at India's 12 major ports dropped 32.28 per cent to 1.74 million in the the first quarter of the current fiscal, according to the latest data from the IPA.

In terms of tonnage, the container cargo declined 30.11 per cent to 26.34 million tonnes (MT) in the quarter.

These ports had handled containers to the tune of 2.57 million TEUs and 37.69 MT in terms of tonnage in the April-June period of the previous financial year.

The IPA, which maintains cargo data handled by these ports, in its latest report said "percentage variation from the previous year" in container handling in terms of TEUs and tonnage was 32.28 per cent and 30.11 per cent, respectively.

India has 12 major ports -- Kandla, Mumbai, JNPT, Mormugao, New Mangalore, Cochin, Chennai, Kamarajar (Ennore), V O Chidambaranar, Visakhapatnam, Paradip and Kolkata (including Haldia) -- that handle about 61 per cent of the country's total cargo traffic.

Ratings agency Icra had earlier said that while all cargo segments are vulnerable, container segment is expected to be more adversely impacted.

While general cargo throughput may witness 5-8 per cent contraction for the full year 2020-21, the container segment may drop 12-15 per cent, it had said.

These 12 ports had handled 705 MT of cargo in the last financial year.

Total cargo traffic includes container cargo, coal, fertilisers, petroleum products and other segments.

Cargo handled by the country's major ports declined by 19.68 per cent to 141.92 MT in the first quarter of this fiscal.

These 12 ports had together handled 176.69 MT of cargo during April-June period of 2018-19.

Ports like Chennai and Kamrajar saw their cargo volumes nosedive about 40 per cent during April-June, while Kolkata and JNPT suffered a drop of over 30 per cent.

While Chennai port saw 39.91 per cent decline in cargo handling to 7.28 MT, Kamarajar (Ennore) port suffered a drop of 39.41 per cent to 5.16 MT in April-June, as per IPA data.

Cargo handling at Cochin port slipped 33.78 per cent to 5.63 MT, while the same at JNPT declined 31.38 per cent to 12.09 MT. Kolkata port logged a fall of 27.26 per cent to 11.72 MT.