It is reported that Visakhapatnam port saw a marginal decline in its cargo handling at around 33 million tonne during the first half of the current financial year as compared with last year.

Coking coal declined to 3.6 million tonne in the first half of this year, as against 4.8 million tonne in the same period last fiscal. However petroleum products, increased by 524,000 tonnes, thermal coal 426,000 tonnes and other cargos by 670,000 tonnes.
The port lost over 1.2 million tonne coking coal to Gangavaram port during the six month period. Moreover, Vizag Steel Plant, which earlier used Vizag port for importing coking and thermal coal shifted to Gangavaram port. In all, 8.9 million tonne cargo shifted to Gangavaram port.

On the other hand, Gangavaram port handled 8.9 million tonne cargo, of which coking coal and thermal coal stood at 3 million tonne each while other cargo was at 2.9 million tonne during the period.

Jayanthi joint director research and planning of Vizag port told Business Standard that “We had some doubts about achieving last year’s cargo handling figures because of the commissioning of Gangavaram port. However, our cargo handing during the first half of the current financial year was about 80,000 tonne less than last year.”

During the last financial year, Vizag port handled 63.9 million tonne of cargo and is expected to achieve the same figure this year too.

(Sourced from Business Standards)