Paradip takes second-top position in cargo handling

During the first four months of the financial year 2015-16, the Paradip Port with handling of 24.33 MMT of cargo continued to be the second largest port among the all major ports of India.The cargo handling figures of all India major ports emphasise that Paradip continues to be the leading one among the major ports in the east coast with Visakhapatnam following it as handling second highest volume. 

The growth of traffic at Paradip is primarily attributable to commodities like various types of coking and non-coking coal (for steel and power industries), lime stone and other dry bulk cargo. The total coal handling at the port in the first four months stands at 13.20 million tonnes as against 8.86 million tonnes handled during the corresponding period of previous year with an increased growth rate of 15.59 per cent. During the period, the port handled 529 ships as against 471 ships handled during the corresponding period of previous year.

Incidentally, among the major ports of India, Paradip stands out as the largest coal handling port in terms of volume with 13.20 MMT followed by Ennore Port with 8.69 MMT in the first four months of FY-2015-16.  The Mechanised Coal Plant of the Paradip Port  in the month of May, 2015 for the first time in its one and a half decades being in operation handled 2.01 MMT  of cargo which is the highest volume of thermal coal handled in a single month surpassing the previous best of 1.99 MMT handled in the month of November 2014.

For aggregation and evacuation of cargo from the port, the east coast rail connectivity plays as a lifeline and in the current financial year between April and July, Paradip Port handled 3,879 rakes (inbound/outbound rakes) in comparison to 3,444 rakes serviced during the same period of previous year thereby witnessing an increase of 12.63 per cent.

All in all, Paradip Port continues to be one of the most preferred ports by the port users for handling dry bulk cargo because of its locational advantage and strong hinterland connectivity.Paradip Port would continue to register the current growth momentum in the financial year 2015-16 and with the commissioning of the Indian Oil Refinery at Paradip.  The port is likely to handle an all-time record high of 78 MMT of cargo in the current fiscal.

Considering the quality of its services, the external auditors of IRQS team while auditing the service standards of the Paradip Port on August 19 last have recommended continuation of the service standard of the port as per ISO 9001/ 2008. The PPT management appreciates the patronisation of its facilities by the user industries and other stakeholders and is committed to render value added services to the entire EXIM trade in the region.