Terminal records 51% year-on-year growth in August and 19% growth in FY 2026-27 year-to-date
DP World Cochin’s International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) recorded its highest-ever monthly throughput in August 2026, handling 97,952 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), an increase of 51% year-on-year. The milestone marks a significant achievement for the terminal, which has now established itself as one of the fastest-growing container gateways on India’s west coast.
DP World Cochin’s record August throughput builds on sustained growth in container volumes at the terminal over the preceding months. After handling 74,644 TEUs in June and 74,585 TEUs in July, volumes rose sharply to 97,952 TEUs in August, setting a new monthly record and breaking well past the terminal’s previous highs. The performance underscores the terminal’s operational capabilities and its growing role as a key gateway for regional and international trade, particularly as shipping lines continue to navigate a complex and shifting global trade landscape.
Between June and August, ICTT also handled 51 ad hoc vessel calls while maintaining high levels of operational efficiency, demonstrating its ability to accommodate additional vessel traffic and support cargo flows across key global trade routes amid ongoing geopolitical disruptions. The ability to absorb this volume of unscheduled calls, without compromising turnaround times or service quality, reflects the depth of investment DP World has made in the terminal’s infrastructure and operating systems over recent years.
For the current financial year, FY 2026-27, ICTT has posted year-to-date growth of 19%, a figure that reflects not just a single strong month but a broader, sustained upward trajectory in cargo volumes moving through Cochin. This consistency is significant for shipping lines and cargo owners alike, offering a level of predictability that is increasingly valuable at a time when many transshipment hubs across the region are grappling with congestion and capacity constraints.
Hemant Kumar Ruia, Country Manager, Subcontinent (India), DP World, said the record throughput in August, together with consistently strong volumes in recent months, reflects the dedication of the team and the trust customers place in DP World Cochin. He said that as global trade evolves, the company remains focused on delivering safe, reliable and efficient operations that keep cargo moving.
Ruia added that with state-of-the-art infrastructure and robust capacity, ICTT is well equipped to accommodate large vessels and manage additional volumes, while delivering world-class productivity, faster vessel turnaround and dependable cargo movement. He said that as India advances its maritime and logistics ambitions, DP World will continue strengthening Cochin’s position as a competitive trade gateway, supporting regional prosperity and the nation’s economic growth.
Beyond the terminal itself, DP World has also developed Kerala’s first Free Trade Warehousing Zone (FTWZ) at Cochin, the only facility of its kind in India co-located within a major port. The FTWZ has recorded strong performance in its own right, reflecting growing customer adoption of the integrated facility for world-class storage, consolidation and distribution solutions supporting EXIM trade. By combining bonded warehousing with direct port access, the FTWZ allows businesses to manage inventory, consolidate shipments and handle value-added logistics activities without the delays and costs typically associated with moving goods between separate facilities.
Together with ICTT, the FTWZ strengthens DP World’s end-to-end logistics proposition in the region, enhancing connectivity and supply chain resilience for businesses operating across South India. The combination of a high-capacity container terminal and an integrated free trade zone positions Cochin as more than just a transshipment point, but as a genuine logistics hub capable of supporting complex, multi-stage supply chains for exporters and importers across Kerala, Tamil Nadu and neighbouring states.
As global shipping continues to contend with rerouted trade lanes, port congestion and shifting alliance structures, DP World Cochin’s ability to deliver record volumes while maintaining operational efficiency signals the terminal’s growing strategic importance, both as a resilient node in international container shipping networks and as a driver of trade competitiveness for the wider South Indian region.
