Welcome to episode 33 of The Port Report from THE WEEK, with the latest updates from the world of ports for the week of September 26 to October 2.
The Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) on October 2 said that it had handled 9.63 lakh—or nearly one million—metric tonnes in a single day, which is now the new national record. Its previous record was 9.03 lakh metric tonnes, set on September 7.
This comes just days after the DPA laid the foundation stone for a ₹2,300-crore e-methanol plant on September 26, which will be the first port-based facility of its kind in India, with a capacity of 150 metric tonnes (MT) per day sourced from renewable power, water, and biogenic CO2.
ALSO READ | How first port-based ₹2,300-crore e-methanol plant at Kandla will power India's green shipping push
Next, the Dhamra Port on Odisha has become India’s first private large-scale multi-cargo port powered by 100 per cent renewable electricity, after it completely cut Scope 2 emissions last month.
ALSO READ | The green maritime leap: How Adani’s Dhamra Port achieved 100% renewable status
Moving on, the Paradip Port saw nearly 5 per cent year-on-year growth in cumulative LPG cargo handling over April-August this fiscal, rising to 8.17 lakh metric tonnes from 7.82 lakh metric tonnes.
The port also saw major year-on-year growth in August FY 2026-27, with limestone cargo handling growing by nearly 11 per cent, AP sulphate by about 13 per cent, and triple the N.C. coal throughput.
It was also notified as India's first mega port on the eastern coast on September 26, with the Deendayal, Mundra, and Jawaharlal Nehru ports being the other three to earn this designation.
ALSO READ | What the 'mega port' label means for Paradip's prowess on India's eastern coast
Next, the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) announced on September 28 that it had secured $70 million (about ₹671 crore) in blue financing from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to scale up shore-to-ship power supply (SPS) across its terminals.
ALSO READ | JNPA to get ₹671 crore from World Bank arm to scale up shore power facilities: How do other Indian ports compare?
The long-term financing from the IFC is expected to help the port adopt the technology at scale.
Moving on, the Mumbai Port Authority declared on October 2 that its Jawahar Dweep Marine Oil Terminal had gone plastic-free, and is now the first in India to completely cut single-use plastics.
ALSO READ | Mumbai Port's Gandhi Jayanti milestone: Jawahar Dweep becomes India's first plastic-free oil terminal
Moving on, the Chennai Container Terminal Private Limited of the Chennai Port achieved its highest-ever throughput in a decade, handling 89,743 TEUs of container cargo across 36 vessels in September 2026.
Finally, the V.O. Chidambaranar Port recorded a cargo throughput of about 38.45 lakh metric tonnes in September 2026, which reflects a 13 per cent growth from nearly 34 lakh metric tonnes in September 2025. Its Tuticorin International Container Terminal also handled a record 33,771 TEUs across 32 vessels in the same month.
On September 29, the port also recorded its highest-ever single-day fertiliser loading by rail, handling 8,061 metric tonnes.
As compared to the same period last fiscal, April-August in FY 2026-27 was particularly eventful for the Tuticorin-based port, which nearly doubled its growth in windmill blades cargo, tripled in iron and steel cargo handling, and saw nearly 75 per cent growth in wind turbine blade handling.
The port’s ₹17,167 crore Outer Harbour project was approved on September 26 by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA).
ALSO READ | Big developments at VOC Port: ₹17,167-crore Outer Harbour project approved; 40,000 sqm earmarked for container cargo handling
40,000 square metres of additional space has also been earmarked to support the storage and stacking of container cargo moving through mainline services.
That's all from Port Report with THE WEEK, and we'll see you next week. For more updates from the maritime sector, visit the special microsite at theweek.in.
