Cochin Port sets a record for cargo volume at 36.32 million MT

In 2023–24, Cochin Port set a new record by handling 36.32 million metric tons (MT), a little increase of 3.01% over the previous fiscal year.

Liquid bulk made up the majority of the port’s cargo profile, contributing 68% of the total, while container traffic made up 28%. An increase in liquid bulk cargo of 8.57% (24.83 million MT) driven mainly by LNG, petroleum products, and oil drove the increase in traffic. The port handled a record 17.20 million MT of oil and 5.86 million MT of petroleum products.

Additionally, in 2023–24, the port handled 1.13 million MT of LNG, an 18.58% increase over the previous year. Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially opened the multi-user liquid terminal (MULT) in Cochin Port on January 17, 2024, and it began processing LPG there.

The port expanded its cargo profile in the current fiscal year by handling 1,33,534 MT of LPG. Also, 3,44,001 MT of bunkers were handled by it. While the port handled 1,39,255 MT of break bulk cargo, mostly consisting of steel coils, defense cargo, and alumina, it also handled 1.17 million MT of dry bulk cargo, which included cement, fertilizer, and salt. The port handled 15,816 MT of timber logs, a new cargo, during the current fiscal year. 35% (12.59 million MT) of the 36.32 million MT total traffic was coastal commerce, with foreign trade accounting for the remaining 65%.

The coastal shipping industry saw consistent expansion. The main goods that supported this expansion were containers, cement, petroleum products, and salt. The main ports involved in coastal commerce were Haldia and Vizag on the east coast and Kandla, Muldwarka, and Mangalore on the west coast.

Twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) transported by containers reached a record high of 7,54,237, above the previous high of 7,35,577 TEUs in 2021–2022. 6,95,230 TEUs were handled at Vallarpadam’s International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) last year.

3,83,232 TEUs (51%) and 3,71,005 TEUs (49%) of the 7,54,237 TEUs were exim boxes. Additionally, in March 2024, the ICTT handled 75,370 TEUs, the biggest monthly tonnage ever, exceeding the previous record of 75,141 TEUs handled in February 2024.

Twenty-five cruises make inquiries.

52,915 people were accommodated at Cochin Port on 43 cruise ships, including 25 international cruises with 20,843 passengers and 18 domestic cruises with 32,072 passengers. In 2023-24, there were an average of 1,260 passengers every call, compared to 1,174 passengers per call in 2022–2023. The average passenger on domestic cruise calls increased by 7.3%, indicating an increasing interest in cruise tourism. During the current fiscal year, eight inaugural cruise calls took place, including Celebrity Edge, Celebrity Millennium, Bolette, Riviera, Le Jacques Cartier, Silver Moon, Viking Sky, and Seven Seas Mariner.

Excellent work, cargo

36.32 million MT Cochin Port handled cargo trade in 2023–2024

Handled 68% liquid bulk

28% of all traffic is container traffic.

Important Players

17.20 million MT crude

Petrol: 5.86 million MT

LNG: 1.13 million MT

1,33,534 tons of LPG

Tonnes of bunkers: 3,44,001

Dry bulk cargo: 1.17 million MT

Logs made of wood: 15,816 tons

12.59 million MT of coastal trade

The amount of containers handled was 7,54,237 TEUs.

Previous record, established in 2021–2022: 7,35,577 TEUs

Traffic handled in 2022–2023: 6,95,230 TEUs

Cruise-related Traffic

43 Cruise trips with 52,915 passengers in 2023–2024

Cruises abroad: 25

20,843 passengers in total

Cruises inside the country: 18

32,072 passengers in total