Cargo volume at major ports in India grew 3 percent in April compared with a year earlier,according to preliminary traffic figures released by the Indian Ports Association.

Total tonnage for April,the first month of fiscal 2010-11,was estimated at 46.6 million tons, up from 45.4 million tons in the same month the previous year.The IPA data indicates that the ports of Kandla, Jawaharlal Nehru(Nhava Sheva), Chennai, Mormugao and Mumbai reported significant gains in overall traffic movements.Kandla emerged as the top cargo handler with throughput of 6.3 million tons.There are 12 major ports in India, equally spread over the east and west coasts.

The ports handled 560.7 million tons of cargo in fiscal 2009-10 ended March 31,compared with 530.5 million tons in 2008-09.Container throughput rose 4.3 percent to 6.87 million 20-foot equivalent units in fiscal 2009-10 from 6.59 million TEUs in the previous year.In other news, the Tariff Authority for Major Ports allowed a 40-percent increase in vessel-related charges at the Port of Cochin, in response to an application from port management for a general tariff review.

Source:Journal of commerce,May 7,2010