In a landmark achievement that cements its legacy as India’s leading maritime gateway, Deendayal Port Authority, Kandla has crossed the historic 160 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) mark in cargo handling for the financial year 2025-26, achieving an unprecedented 160.11 MMT – the highest-ever cargo volume handled in the history of Major Ports.
➢ India’s No. 1 Major Port: DPA has achieved the Numero-Uno position among all Major Ports in the country.
➢ Best Performer: Leading all India Major Ports with the highest cargo throughput.
➢ Unmatched Growth: Has grown from 150 Million Tons last year to 160 Million Tons this year, 7% Y-o-Y growth over a high baseline.
This monumental feat is a testament to the relentless efforts of the port’s leadership, employees, dock workers, trade unions, PPP operators, all stakeholders and dedicated Shramiks, who have contributed to making DPA a beacon of operational excellence and national pride.
Commodity-wise analysis
There has been an around 32% increase in fertilisers, a 23.4% increase in liquid cargo, and a 54% increase in Container cargo. Other commodities that added to Kandla’s volumes are Iron & Steel (43% growth) & Clay (17% growth). However, there has been a drop in certain commodities like Timber (4.3% drop), Salt (12.4% drop), Crude & POL at Vadinar (5 % drop) & Coal (2.8% drop).
In spite of these reduction in certain commodities, Kandla Port had compensated these shortfall by increased volume of Container traffic, Fertilizer and liquid Cargo at Kandla and has crossed 160.11 Million Tons.
Celebrating the Milestone
To commemorate this remarkable milestone, celebrations were held across multiple locations:
• A part of the celebration, port officials & employees gathered in a spirited atmosphere to acknowledge their hard work and shared success.
• As mark of appreciation, workers and shramiks were provided with utility kits, as a mark of recognition of their efforts in the achievement of this milestone.
Speaking on the occasion, Sushil Kumar Singh, Chairman, Deendayal Port Authority, extended his heartfelt gratitude to all Port Users, Transporters, Stevedores, Shipping Agents, Custom Officials, Trade Unions, Port Officials, Employees, and Shramik Brothers & Sisters – The True Partners in Progress.
“Crossing the historic milestone of 160 Million Tons is not merely an achievement in numbers, but a reflection of the unwavering commitment, synergy and resilience of the entire port community. This accomplishment stands as a testament to our collective strength and our continuous pursuit of excellence. Under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister and his focus on transforming India’s maritime sector, DPA Kandla is proud to contribute towards building a stronger, self-reliant and globally competitive maritime ecosystem.”
This milestone reflects DPA’s commitment to the “Viksit Bharat 2047” vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and reinforces its role as a crucial pillar in India’s maritime and economic growth.
