INDIA's 12 major ports handled a combined 1.5 million TEU in April and May, representing a year-on-year increase of 8.2 per cent, according to port statistics analysed by JOC.com.
Within that total, the nation's leading port Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) accounted for 821,000 TEU, an 8.4 per cent increase from 757,000 TEU previously.
APM Terminals-operated Gateway Terminals India at JNPT was the main driver of that increase, with volume up 22.2 per cent year on year to 344,229 TEU, reported IHS Media.
A breakdown of the figures for JNPT's other terminals shows that in April and May Jawaharlal Nehru Container Terminal handled 272,261 TEU, up 2.2 per cent; DP World-operated Nhava Sheva International Container Terminal volume fell 16.6 per cent year on year to 111,711 TEU; and at DP World's new facility Nhava Sheva (India) Gateway Terminal saw volumes rise 23.4 per cent to 92,584 TEU.
Chennai Port's volumes in April and May increased by five per cent year on year to 257,000 TEU, raising the port's hopes of a turnaround after struggling to regain traffic lost to privately-operated rivals. However, a new Adani Group terminal scheduled to commence operations in the coming days at the Ennore port, just 15 miles away, could further pressure Chennai's turnaround efforts.
The INR724-crore (US$110 million) first phase of the Adani Ennore Container Terminal includes a 400-metre quay, four rail-mounted quay cranes, 12 rubber-tyre gantry cranes, and a capacity to handle 800,000 TEU per annum. When completed, the project will have a 730-metre quay line and an annual capacity of 1.4 million TEU.