Cargo traffic at major ports rises 4% in Apr-Jun

The major ports in the country witnessed 3.91 per cent rise in cargo traffic to 174.02 million tonnes in the April-June quarter this fiscal.

"The major ports in India have recorded a growth of 3.91 per cent and together handled 174.02 million tonnes (MT) of cargo during the period April to June, 2018 as against 167.48 million tonnes handled during the corresponding period of previous year," the shipping ministry said in a statement.

Nine ports - Kolkata including Haldia, Paradip, Visakhapatnam, Kamarajar, Chennai, Cochin, New Mangalore, JNPT and Deendayal (Kandla) Port - have registered positive growth in traffic during the April-June period, it said.

The highest growth of 11.93 per cent was registered by Kamarajar Port.

"Kamarajar Port growth was mainly due to increase in other liquids by 29.63 per cent, other misc cargo by 15.06 per cent...and thermal and steam coal by 4.93 per cent," the statement said.

Kolkata Port registered overall growth of 10.21 per cent.