India’s container traffic is projected to expand by 7–9% over the coming year, driven by sustained growth in manufacturing, rising exports, and continued investments in port infrastructure. Major ports are expected to outperform non-major ports, supported by improved operational efficiency, enhanced hinterland connectivity, and capacity augmentation. These developments reinforce the country’s ambition of becoming a globally competitive maritime and logistics hub.
Containerised cargo continues to benefit from increasing trade in manufactured goods, electronics, engineering products, chemicals, and consumer merchandise. Modernisation initiatives, including terminal automation, digital cargo management, and multimodal logistics integration, are further strengthening the competitiveness of leading ports.
Commodity-wise trends, however, present a mixed picture. Petroleum, Oil and Lubricants (POL) cargo is expected to maintain steady growth due to stable energy demand and refinery activity. Coal traffic is likely to remain resilient, supported by thermal power generation and industrial consumption, although the pace of growth may moderate as renewable energy capacity expands. In contrast, iron ore volumes could remain under pressure owing to changing export demand and fluctuations in global steel markets.
The stronger performance of major ports reflects ongoing investments in deeper drafts, larger container terminals, improved rail and road connectivity, and faster cargo evacuation systems. These factors are enabling them to handle higher cargo volumes more efficiently while attracting larger shipping services.
Looking ahead, India’s maritime sector is expected to remain on a positive growth trajectory, supported by government initiatives to improve port infrastructure, promote multimodal logistics, and reduce logistics costs. As containerisation increases and supply chains become more integrated, major ports are likely to play a pivotal role in supporting the country’s expanding domestic and international trade.
