India's major ports clear 90% cargo backlog as Hormuz uncertainty persists

In a major boost for the maritime sector, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), Sarbananda Sonowal, on Friday announced that India's major ports had cleared nearly 90 per cent of their cargo backlog.

In a high-level review meeting with senior officials and port authorities, he declared that timely intervention and continuous monitoring by the MoPSW played a key role in managing the cargo backlog, caused by disruptions in maritime trade due to the war in the Gulf, which has crossed 40 days.

"Our approach has been proactive, responsive and stakeholder-focused. We will continue to ensure that India’s maritime sector remains robust and efficient, even in the face of global challenges," Sonowal said in a statement.

It added that a number of major ports, such as the Deendayal Port, the Jawaharlal Nehru Port, the New Mangalore Port, and the Mumbai Port, have largely cleared their cargo backlog.

A slew of innovative operational measures, boosts to yard capacities, and improved logistics planning is said to have played a crucial role in reaching this stage.

The shipping minister also instructed the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) to ensure complete transparency in shipping-related charges, and discussed the functioning of grievance redressal mechanisms at ports—with instructions to strengthen these mechanisms.

"This crisis must not become an opportunity for profiteering. All charges must be clearly documented and monitored to protect trade interests," Sonowal added.

This comes as the Strait of Hormuz remains mired in uncertainty amid a fragile two-week ceasefire between Iran and US-Israel forces that is being strained over Israel's attacks on Lebanon.

This is likely to lead to further disruptions in shipping.

The strait, which once saw the flow of about 20 per cent of the world's energy exports, continues to see reduced traffic—which is marginally higher than it was before the ceasefire was announced.

According to maritime tracker MarineTraffic, 14 vessels crossed the strait between April 8 and 9, of which 70 per cent were exiting from the Gulf. About two-thirds of the 14 ships were also found to be sanctioned or shadow-fleet vessels.