Higher Cargo Inflow at Indian Ports in the First Quarter

07-Jul-2026 01:53 PM

Ahmedabad. The Indian Ports Association reports that freight traffic (the volume of imports and exports) at India's major ports rose by 6.1 percent to reach 233.64 million tonnes during the first quarter of the current fiscal year (April–June 2026) compared to the previous year. This increase in freight traffic was driven by a significant rise in the imports of chemical fertilizers and other miscellaneous goods.

According to the association's report, cargo volume for crude mineral oil and petroleum products grew by 1.1 percent to 66.85 million tonnes during the period under review, whereas imports of other liquid commodities fell by 9.1 percent to 7.44 million tonnes. Imports of finished chemical fertilizers saw a sharp increase of 33.3 percent, reaching 2.07 million tonnes (20.70 lakh tonnes) during the April–June quarter. Similarly, imports of other miscellaneous products surged by 26.6 percent to 33.22 million tonnes. The volume of iron ore pellets rose by 1.8 percent to 13.97 million tonnes. Along with minerals, there were also significant imports of certain food products.

The country imports large quantities of edible oils, pulses, and various other food commodities. However, imports of rice, wheat, sugar, and moong (green gram) remain virtually at a standstill.

Among major Indian ports, Kandla Port handled the highest volume of cargo at 42.76 million tonnes. This was followed by Paradip Port, which handled 39.67 million tonnes, and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), which handled 27.64 million tonnes.