India has a coastline of 7,500 kilometers, which is important for the country’s economy and trade. There are thirteen main ports in India, and they handle 95% of the country’s trade by volume. These ports also manage 65% of India’s trade value. In 2024, these ports managed 817.98 million tonnes of cargo, which was a 4.38% increase from the previous year.

These seaports in India are very important for India’s economy, and they are constantly improving to meet the needs of global trade. The planned investments will help make the Indian port network better, allowing them to meet international standards and support the growing trade in India. Let’s discuss the main ports in India that directly impact the country’s trade and economy. These ports play a very important role in supporting the Indian economy and growth.

List of 13 Ports in India:

1. Deendayal Port

The former Kandla Port is now called Deendayal Port, and it is an important maritime hub located in the Gulf of Kutch, Gujarat, India. The port was created in the 1950s to help with the congestion at Mumbai Port and to provide trade access for western India. Over the years, Deendayal Port has grown and is now one of the top ports in India based on its cargo handling capacity.

During 2024, Deendayal Port handled 131.82 million metric tonnes (MMT) of cargo. This is a big part of the 817.98 MMT of cargo that was handled by all the major Indian ports during that time. The recent cargo numbers show why Deendayal Port is so important for both international trade and coastal operations.

2. Mumbai Port

Mumbai Port, located in Mumbai, Maharashtra, is one of India’s oldest and most important maritime access points. It was founded in the 17th century and has always been key to the country’s commercial growth. The port handles a wide range of industrial products, including textiles, chemicals, and machinery, due to Mumbai’s strong industrial base. Mumbai Port also serves passengers by hosting cruise liners and providing ferry services. In May 2024, the port saw a 5.89% increase in cargo handling compared to May 2023, showing its continued importance in India’s maritime industry.

3. Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (Nhava Sheva)

Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), also called Nhava Sheva, is India’s biggest container port. It started in 1989 and is located in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra. In the year 2023-2024, JNPT handled a large amount of shipping, contributing to the total of 817.98 million tonnes of cargo handled by Indian ports.

The port is constantly improving by building new terminals and using digital technology to make operations better. JNPT is also working on increasing its capacity to stay an important hub for maritime trade, thus helping maintain the effectiveness of the Port Authority of India.

4. Mormugao Port

Mormugao Port is located in Mormugao, Goa, and has both historical importance and a key position on India’s west coast. The port is mainly used for exporting iron ore and manganese, which are important resources from the region. In January 2024, Mormugao Port saw a 59% increase in traffic compared to other major sea ports in India, handling more cargo than usual.

The port is modernizing its infrastructure and using new technology to improve cargo handling, which is helping to drive significant growth in traffic.

5. New Mangalore Port

Mormugao Port is located in Mormugao, Goa, and has both historical importance and a key position along India’s western coast. The port has been the main exporter of iron ore and manganese, providing an important route for regional mineral exports. In January 2024, Mormugao Port saw a 59% increase in container traffic compared to other major ports in India.

This growth happened because the port is modernizing, with improvements in its infrastructure and the use of advanced cargo handling technology to increase its capacity.

6. Cochin Port

Cochin Port is located in Kochi, Kerala, on India’s southwest coast, making it an important port. Throughout history, it has been a key gateway for distributing tea, spices, and petroleum products, supporting Kerala’s agricultural and manufacturing industries. In May 2024, Cochin Port showed its strength by handling 7.78% more cargo than the previous year.

The port’s capacity and trade volume will continue to grow because of ongoing improvements, including expanding terminals and upgrading logistics facilities. The Port Authority of India plays a role in supporting such enhancements across the network.

7. Chennai Port

Chennai Port is in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, and is one of the most important ports in India on the eastern coast. It handles the import and export of things like cars, coal, petroleum products, and iron ore, which shows the area’s wide range of industries. To keep up with the growing trade, the port is adding more berths and improving its facilities to work more efficiently.

8. Ennore Port (Kamarajar Port)

Ennore Port, also known as Kamarajar Port, is located near Chennai in Tamil Nadu. It is India’s first port corporation run through a public-private partnership. The port mainly handles liquefied natural gas (LNG), coal, petroleum products, and automobiles.

Ennore Port is making progress by building new terminal facilities and using advanced cargo handling technology. In the future, the port plans to grow even more by increasing its capacity and handling new types of cargo, which will help boost its role in both international and regional trade.

9. Visakhapatnam Port

Visakhapatnam Port, located in Andhra Pradesh, is the largest port on India’s eastern coast in terms of cargo handling capacity. The port handles important goods like iron ore, petroleum products, coal, and fertilizers.

To improve its ability to handle larger ships, the port has worked on deepening its channels and upgrading its berths. These upgrades will help make the port more competitive in international trade, increasing both its efficiency and the amount of cargo it can handle.

10. Paradip Port

Paradip Port, located in Odisha, is one of the fastest-growing ports in India. It mainly handles three key items: thermal coal, iron ore, and crude oil. In the fiscal year 2023-2024, Paradip Port earned ₹1,570 crore in revenue. To meet the growing demand in maritime trade, the port is expanding its docks and improving its facilities to increase its capacity.

11. Haldia Port

Haldia Port, located in West Bengal, is a subsidiary of Kolkata Port. It helps reduce transportation delays and boosts regional trade. The port mainly handles four key items: chemicals, coal, iron ore, and fertilizers.

To keep operations running smoothly, Haldia Port is focused on strategic development. This includes expanding cargo handling capabilities and improving navigation through ongoing dredging efforts.

12. Kolkata Port (Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port)

Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port (SMP Kolkata) is the oldest active port in India, having started in 1870. It’s located on the Hooghly River in West Bengal. The port is very important for connecting eastern India and the northeastern states.

The port mainly handles shipments of jute, tea, coal, and steel, which are crucial for regional trade. In the fiscal year 2023-24, the port reached a new record by handling 66.4 million metric tons (MMT) of cargo.

The port also saw huge growth in its profits, with a 65% increase, reaching ₹501.73 crore. Right now, there are big upgrades happening at the port. They are adding new mechanical berths and expanding the Haldia Dock Complex to make the port more efficient.

Since it’s the only major river port in India, SMP Kolkata plays a key role in trade and is always being updated to handle more trade both inside India and with other countries.

13. V.O. Chidambaranar Port (Tuticorin Port)

Tuticorin Port, originally called V.O. Chidambaranar Port, is located at the southeastern edge of India in Tamil Nadu. This location makes the port a key trade center, helping with the export of industrial and agricultural goods from Tamil Nadu to southern India.

The main cargo handled at this port includes coal, fertilizers, salt, petroleum products, and container boxes. The port has also increased its container capacity, making it one of the fastest-growing ports in India.

To modernize, the port is focusing on two main projects: building new terminals and implementing green port policies. Tuticorin Port plays an important role in connecting India to international trade through its deep draft and strong access system, which uses roads, railways, and ships to reach Southeast Asia.

Final Words

These above discussed ports in India are crucial for national trade. They connect industries to global markets and help drive the country’s economic growth. Additionally, they are always improving to become more efficient and ready for the growing demand in the future.

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