India's non-major ports hit 753.07 MMT throughput for FY 2025-26 as growth slows

India's non-major ports recorded slower growth in cargo throughput than the previous fiscal year, handling 753.07 million metric tonnes (MMT) in FY 2025-26.

This reflects an increase of just 1.44 per cent more than the 742.41 MMT throughput handled in FY 2024-25, as  per data from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), cited in an ET Infra report.

In contrast, India's major ports showed a strong 7.06 per cent growth over the same period, logging a record 915.17 million metric tonnes (MMT)—well past the yearly target of 904 MMT.

The overseas cargo throughput of 612.02 MMT formed 81.27 per cent of the total figure, while coastal cargo handling stood at 141.05 MMT, accounting for the remaining 18.73 per cent.

While overseas cargo saw a 1.43 per cent growth over the same period, coastal cargo grew by 1.45 per cent.

State-wise, Gujarat's non-major ports under consideration recorded the highest throughput, followed by those in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Odisha.

Ports under the Gujarat Maritime Board handled 485.25 MMT of cargo, accounting for 64.44 per cent of the total cargo handled in FY 2025-26.

This was followed by those under the Andhra Pradesh Maritime Board, which handled 116.77 MMT; those under the Maharashtra Maritime Board, which handled 70.56 MMT; and those under the Odisha Maritime Board, which handled 52.95 MMT.

This milestone from Gujarat's non-major ports mirrors an important milestone from one of its major ports: the Deendayal Port in Kandla, which became the top-performing major port in India, in terms of cargo throughput.

The Kandla-based port handled 160.11 MMT by the end of FY 2025-26—3.66 MMT more than the Paradip Port, which logged in 156.45 MMT over the same period.

In terms of the nature of the cargo handled itself, coal took the lead, with 202.78 MMT handled in FY 2025-26, or a 26.93 per cent share of the total throughput—a 0.86 per cent decrease from the coal throughput in FY 2024-25.

POL (Petroleum, Oil, Lubricants) and crude oil shipments came second, with 196.75 MMT—or a 26.13 per cent share over the same period, reflecting a 13.47 per cent increase.

Container cargo came third, with 161.64 MMT—or a 21.47 per cent share, reflecting a 2.25 per cent growth.

The fertiliser cargo throughput of 18.54 MMT showed the highest growth of 51.9 per cent, despite only contributing to 2.46 per cent, while foodgrain cargo throughput of 38.21 MMT saw the biggest drop of 28.48 per cent.