Cargo volume decline reducing steadily for major ports, suggesting recovery in external trade

During April-February 2020-21, the major Indian ports handled 600.63 million tonnes (mt) of traffic, compared to 643.1 mt in the corresponding period of 2019-20, registering a decline of 6.61 per cent. Port-wise, Deendayal port handled the maximum traffic at 104.62 mt, followed by Paradip port at 102.91 mt and Visakhapatnam port at 63.49 mt. The traffic handled at major ports has been severely impacted due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the major ports have been registering a  year-on-year cargo decline since July 2020, suggesting a recovery in the country’s external trade.