Major ports handled 915.17 million tonnes of cargo in FY26: Sonowal
Major ports have collectively handled 915.17 million tonnes of cargo in 2025-26, surpassing the annual target of 904 MT, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said on Friday.
The ports, shipping and waterways minister further said that this marks a year-on-year growth of 7.06 per cent, reaffirming the sector’s strong recovery, enhanced efficiency, and sustained growth trajectory.
He said that during 2025-26, overall capex by the Shipping Ministry and its attached organisations was Rs 14,953 crore compared to Rs 9,708 crore in 2024-25.
“During 2025-26, 94 ships were added to the Indian Flag with the addition of 25.67 lakh Deadweight Tonnage (DWT) compared to 45 ships with 7.72 lakh DWT during 2024-25,” the minister said at an event to exchange of MoU between the Delhi School of Economics and think tank RIS (Research and Information System for Developing Countries).
There are 12 major ports wholly-owned by the central Government and governed by the provisions of the Major Port Authorities Act, 2021.
These are Deendayal Port, Mumbai Port, Jawaharlal Nehru Port, Mormugao Port, New Mangalore Port, Cochin Port, V.O. Chidambaranar Port, Chennai Port, Kamarajar Port, Visakhapatnam Port, Paradip Port and Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port.
Sonowal said India’s progress in sea-going workforce has been significant and measurable, as the number of Indian seafarers has nearly tripled during the last 12 years.
“India today ranks, amongst the top three countries, as a seafarer provider, contributing roughly 12 per cent of the global maritime workforce.
“We aim to increase our global share to 20 per cent by 2030,” he added.
The minister emphasised that equally important is the skilling and development of maritime professionals for shore-based jobs.
“Therefore, the Government is expanding the scope of maritime education into emerging and interdisciplinary domains,” he said.
The minister said that for a maritime nation like India, with a coastline of over 11,098 kilometres, 111 National Waterways and a strategically advantageous position on major global trade routes.
Complementing all this is the Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, which charts our long-term ambition for establishing India as the top maritime nation in the next 21 years, he said.
It is important to emphasise that the Blue Economy is not about the indiscriminate exploitation of ocean resources, Sonowal said, adding that it is about the sustainable and responsible utilisation of ocean, coastal and marine ecosystems to drive economic growth, generate livelihoods, while ensuring environmental protection.
“It encompasses a wide range of sectors, including fisheries, maritime transport, offshore renewable energy, marine biotechnology, and coastal tourism,” he said, adding that sustainability remains a central pillar of our maritime strategy.
