NEW DELHI: Container segment is
expected to fuel the next stage of growth at Indian ports. Major Ports in the
Country are already ramping up container handling capacity despite sluggish
global container and freight movement in the past two years.
A report by Care Ratings has pegged the cargo container handling
of ports in the Country to reach 25 million TEUs (Twenty Tonne equivalent
units) by 2020-21 from the current 13 million TEUs. Non-Major Ports are set to
add higher capacities in this segment.
"We expect the same (global container movement) to recover
globally over the next 2-3 years. We also expect a pick-up in containerisation
of a wider variety of cargo in India, since handling and transportation becomes
faster and easier," the report stated.
With the Sagarmala programme aiming to increase the depth of Major
Ports so as to cut time on trans-shipping of goods, the ports would be able to
handle new generation mega vessels over the next two to three years.
Presently, petroleum and its products account for 25-30 per cent
of the import-export volume of the Country. The Government intends to double
the petroleum refining capacity to meet the domestic demand and also augment
exports. Current refining capacity stands at 230 million tonnes per annum
(mtpa). The increased refining capacity is expected to cater to regional demand
especially petroleum exports to Countries like Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar,
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Petroleum, oil and lubricant (POL) segment is poised
to be the major growth segment for the overall growth of cargo capacity handled
by ports.
Capacity utilization of six Major Ports on the Eastern Coast was
56.2 per cent in 2016-17, a slide of 3.4 per cent compared with FY17.
Similarly, Major Ports on the Western Coast reported capacity utilisation of
65.9 per cent in last fiscal, a slump of 3.3 per cent.
"During 2016-17, Major Ports implemented 100 million tonnes
of capacity addition. We expect the capacity utilization to remain stable
during the current year. Fall in import of commodities like coal would be
compensated by the increased export of iron ore, zinc and steel", the
report noted.
During the past three year, technology improvements such as new
container terminal projects at JNPT, Kamrajar Port in Tamil Nadu, new cargo
terminals, improving rail connectivity and implementation of RFID (Radio
Frequency Identification) system across ports has helped improve the efficiency
and handling capacity.
Major Ports continued to witness growth in operating surplus
backed by the steady increase in operating margins. The 12 Major Ports posted a
combined net surplus of Rs 2820 crore in 2016-17 on income of Rs 11,894.5 crore
from handling 647.6 million tonnes of cargo.
Source: Dailyshippingtimes.com
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