Despite a slowdown in cargo movement due to Covid-related disruptions, the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port saw a 15% increase in net profit to Rs 120 crore in 2021-22. The port made a profit of Rs.104 crore in 2020-21. Despite project execution difficulties caused by Covid, it has been conducting massive infrastructure modernization and digital initiatives, according to the source. In FY’22, the port handled 58.17 million tonne of cargo, down from 61.36 million tonne the previous year, as iron-ore exports and coal imports fell due to price instability and a high logistics freight rate.
In 2021-22, 2957 ships were called at Kolkata port against 3189 ships during the year before.
Container traffic registered a growth of 7 per cent to 7.35 lakh twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). Railway traffic also rose to 30.18 million tonne from 28.22 million tonne registering a growth of 6.95 per cent.
”This year we have been certified as a great place to work. This prestigious recognition had previously been given to top corporates like IOC, NTPC and Tatas among others,” SMP Kolkata chairman Vinit Kumar said. Petro products import by Bangladesh’s Mongla Port via Kolkata has begun and this may result in an addition of about one million tonne of cargo for the riverine port, Kumar said.
