India: Cargo throughput at four major Indian ports rises 8% m-o-m in Sep’26

• Growth at Paradip, Vizag offsets declines at JNPT, Deendayal
• Improved overall volumes indicate recovery in cargo movement

Cargo throughput across Paradip, Vizag, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), and Deendayal increased by around 8% m-o-m to 63.10 million tonnes (mnt) in September 2026 from 58.34 mnt in August. The increase was supported by higher volumes at Paradip and Vizag, which offset declines at JNPT and Deendayal. Despite the overall recovery, the mixed performance across ports indicates divergent trends in bulk and container cargo movement.

Port-wise cargo movement

• Paradip gains: Cargo throughput increased 3% m-o-m to 12.12 mnt from 11.8 mnt, supported by improved cargo dispatches and bulk handling. Coal, iron ore and other industrial cargo movements remain key drivers of throughput at the port.
• Vizag rebounds: Throughput rose 10% m-o-m to 7.6 mnt from 6.92 mnt, indicating a recovery from August’s weakness. Improved bulk cargo movement and a potential easing of monsoon-related operational disruptions may have supported the rebound.
• JNPT declines: Cargo handling fell 14% m-o-m to 8.36 mnt from 9.74 mnt, despite resilient container activity. The decline in overall throughput may reflect softer non-container cargo movement or changes in cargo mix, while container traffic remained supported by export-import demand.
• Deendayal records sharp decline: Cargo throughput dropped 19% m-o-m to 13.07 mnt from 16.12 mnt, marking the steepest contraction among the four ports. Lower bulk cargo handling, particularly coal and other dry-bulk commodities, alongside fluctuations in vessel arrivals and cargo scheduling, may have weighed on volumes.