India’s major ports recorded a marked increase in cargo handling during the April to November 2025 period, reflecting stronger maritime trade activity and improved port throughput, according to the latest infrastructure performance review released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
As per data compiled from the Ministry of Shipping, the country’s 13 major ports handled a cumulative 591.38 million tonnes of cargo during April-November 2025. This represents a 7.61 per cent increase compared to the corresponding period of the previous year, when cargo handling stood at 549.56 million tonnes. The growth rate marks a notable acceleration from the 2.6 per cent expansion recorded during April-November 2024.
The review notes that performance targets for the current financial year have not yet been provided by the reporting agency, the Indian Ports Association, though the year-to-date figures indicate sustained momentum across key cargo categories.
Breaking down the monthly performance, November 2025 alone saw major ports handle 77.4 million tonnes of cargo, which was 14.46 per cent higher than cargo volumes recorded in November of the previous year, underlining a strong month-on-month recovery in port activity.
Port-wise data for the April-November period shows Kandla and Paradip emerging as the largest cargo handlers among major ports, each crossing the 100 million tonne mark. Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) followed with 66.47 million tonnes, while Visakhapatnam handled 58.24 million tonnes and Mumbai Port accounted for 49.43 million tonnes.
In coal handling, Paradip accounted for 45.59 million tonnes during April-November 2025, while Kamarajar (Ennore) handled 16.87 million tonnes, Kandla 12.99 million tonnes, Haldia 12.75 million tonnes and Visakhapatnam 10.62 million tonnes.
