The Paradip Port Trust (PPT) handled 34.12 million tonnes (MT) of cargo in the first six months of the current financial year by the end of September compared to 25.63 MT during the corresponding period of the previous year. This is an increase of 33.13 per cent and also 7.53 per cent higher over the target fixed for the period.
The PPT handled 5.08 MT of cargo in the month of September as compared to 4.55 MT in the corresponding month of previous year. In September this year, 2.34 MT of cargo was exported and 2.74 MT was imported. There is an impressive increase of 84.92 per cent in export cargo witnessed during the period compared to the same period of last year.
During this period in the current financial year, the thermal coal traffic posted a growth of 46.82 per cent. The POl traffic increased by 16.21 per cent, iron ore traffic registered a growth of 144.42 per cent, coking coal 18.11 per cent and other cargo by 39.77 per cent compared to the same period of previous year.
The Paradip Port retained its second highest position in terms of cargo handled and also in terms of percentage of growth in traffic among all the Major Ports.
A total of 743 vessels entered the port and 742 sailed out during the first six months of this financial year compared to 599 and 600, respectively, during the corresponding period of the previous year.