Cochin Port has registered a 4 per cent rise in cargo traffic in FY2024-25, achieving a throughput of 37.75 million tonnes against 36.32 million tonnes in the previous fiscal.
The Port has consistently recorded growth in the past years since 2020-21 and has registered a CAGR of 5.04 per cent, stated a press release. The port also received 1,265 commercial vessels with an average parcel size of 29,839 tonnes –up 3.81 per cent from the year-ago period (28,745 tonnes).
Liquid bulk continued to dominate the cargo profile with a lion’s share of 66 per cent (25.10 million tonnes) of the total traffic. Of this, crude accounted for 17.26 million tonnes, followed by 6.30 million tonnes petroleum products and 1.54 million tonnes of other liquids such as sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid, ammonia, methanol and LNG. The LPG offtake has also significantly improved from 1.34 lakh tonnes to 3.64 lakh tonnes. The bunkering business has remained steady at 3.54 lakh tonnes during the fiscal year compared to 3.44 lakh tonnes supplied during FY2023-24.
The port handled 1.38 million tonnes of dry and break bulk cargo (4 per cent of the total traffic) which included, cement, rock phosphate, salt, sulphur, ilmenite sand, alumina and steel products. Backed by heightened civil construction, cement handling buoyed by 10.67 per cent to 8.36 lakh tonnes during the financial year from 7.55 lakh tonnes in 2023-24.
The port saw a 3 per cent decrease in vessel Turnaround Time (TRT) compared to the year-ago period, reflecting enhanced operational efficiency, with container vessels turning around in 20 hours on an average.
The Cochin Port Authority’s consistent performance in cargo handling is the result of strategic initiatives and commitment to excel in spite of challenges posed by the shrinking hinterland and competing ports within the peninsula, stated the release.
