Crosses record 5m TEUs in calendar year; achieves highest monthly throughput in Dec.
Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), the number one container port in India, registered an improved performance for calendar year 2018 with significant growth in both container and bulk cargo volumes. The total container traffic handled in 2018 was 5.05 million TEUs, reflecting a 7.24 per cent growth as compared to the previous year. In December 2018, JNPT handled 4.45 lakh TEUs, the highest container volume handled in a month, ever. As regards the ongoing financial year figures (nine months: April 2018-December 2018) figures, the traffic handled was 3.81 million TEUs. With the last quarter of the financial year underway, JNPT is well on course to exceed the performance numbers of 2017-18.
The other interesting performance numbers include bulk cargo growth of 8.41 per cent at 8.57 million tonnes compared to 7.90 million tonnes in the previous calendar year. The share of liquid cargo rose to 7.54 million tonnes in 2018 compared to 7.01 million tonnes in 2017.
Taking a closer look at the performance of the four terminals, JNPCT handled 11.79 lakh TEUs, APM Terminals recorded 20.77 lakh TEUs, while DP World (NSICT and NSIGT) handled a cumulative 14.60 lakh TEUs and BMCTPL handled 3.34 lakh TEUs in 2018.
JNPT has been consistently improving its volume and turnover as the many trade-friendly measures implemented by the port fully support the exim trade community. Several steps under ease of doing business and introduction of Direct Port Delivery (DPD) have substantially contributed to increasing the volume of traffic. Already close to 43 per cent of the cargo handled is routed through DPD, which is not only saving time and cost for the trade, but also elevating JNPT at par with global standards. Another important initiative, inter-terminal movement of TTs, has been used by 6.80 lakh trucks completing 8.52 transactions since the inception of the facility. It has helped the exim trade with fuel saving of more than Rs 10 crore and reduced the total trade cost by Rs 203 crore till date. The ‘ease of doing business’ initiatives at JNPT have been credited for helping India improve its position in the World Bank’s Trading across the Borders ranking from 146 to 80, a jump of 66 points!
The overall business growth and efficiency in port operations won many awards for JNPT during the year, among them being Container Handling Port of the Year at MALA 2018. Another noteworthy recognition it received was the National Sectoral Excellence Award-Best Port in India at the 4th ATAL SHASTRA MARKENOMY 2018.
JNPT had achieved a record throughput of 4.83 million TEUs for the year ended March 2018 and was also the first port to cross the Rs 1,000-crore profit mark. Looking at the performance till December, it is well on course to exceed these numbers from the last financial year and close 2018-19 on yet another record high.
