The Paradip Port Trust (PPT) handled 23.13 million tonnes (MT) cargo till July last in the current financial year as compared to 16.19 MT cargo handled during the corresponding period of the previous year, registering an increase of 42.83 per cent. It is also an increase of 8.64 per cent over the target fixed for the period.
The PPT handled 6.13 MT cargo during the month of July alone as compared to 4.45 MT handled in the corresponding month of previous year which is 37.66 per cent higher and also 17.42 per cent higher than the target fixed for the month. During July, 2.15 MT cargo was exported and 3.98 MT was imported through the port.
Thermal coal traffic exhibited a growth of 61.86 per cent. Similarly, Pol traffic increased by 20.54 per cent, iron ore by 112.48 per cent, fertilizer raw materials 28.10 per cent, coking coal 17.37 per cent and other cargo traffic by 60 per cent compared to the same period of the previous year.
The port retained the second highest position in terms of cargo handled and also in terms of percentage of growth in traffic among all the major ports till July end.
Rail borne traffic improved by 40 per cent during the month and the same is improved by 50 per cent up to the month over the corresponding periods of the previous year. A record quantity of 373,424 tonnes of cargo was handled in a day on July 28 surpassing the previous daily handling record of 357,424 tonnes in March 11.
PPT Chairman SS Mishra congratulated all the employees and officers, trade unions, port users and all other stakeholders for excellence in the traffic throughput.