Major ports’ extent of volume decline reducing steadily, suggesting recovery in external trade

During April-January 2020-21, major Indian ports handled 542.14 million tonnes (mt) of traffic, compared to 585.73 mt in the corresponding period of 2019-20, registering a decline of 7.44 per cent. Port-wise, the Deendayal port handled the maximum traffic at 95.09 mt, followed by the Paradip port (93.61 mt) and the Visakhapatnam port (58.09 mt). The traffic handled at major ports has been severely impacted due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, major ports have been registering a year-on-year cargo contraction since July 2020, suggesting a recovery in the country’s external trade. The Paradip port handled 93.61 mt of traffic throughput during the April-January 2021 period, posting an increase of 0.24 per cent over the previous fiscal. This was the first time that the port posted growth in volumes since the financial year 2020-21 began. Besides, the Mormugao port handled 17.19 mt during the period under consideration, an increase of 28.12 per cent over the previous fiscal.