New Mangalore Port posts a 4.3% cargo volume growth in H1
New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) recorded 4.3% growth in cargo handling in the first six months of 2012-13, Daily Shipping Times reports.
The port handled 16.73 million tonnes of cargo during April-September as against 16.04 million tonnes in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal. Mr. P. Tamilvanan, Chairman, NMPT, said that cargoes such as coal and fertilizer saw good growth during the period.
He attributed this to the marketing efforts of the port in attracting coal. The port handled 1.10 million tonnes (7.92 lakh tonnes) of coal cargo for the Udupi-based UPCL (Udupi Power Corporation Limited) during the period. Similarly there was an increase in the handling of coal cargoes for several other units in the hinterland areas such as Bellary.
The handling for such units increased to 1.67 million tonnes (9.21 lakh tonnes).
He said that fertilizer handling at NMPT recorded around 60% growth during the period. The port handled 2.50 lakh tonnes (1.56 lakh tonnes) of fertilizer cargo during the period.
The handling of iron ore fines for the public sector Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Limited (KIOCL) increased to 8.96 lakh tonnes (3.93 lakh tonnes).
The company imported these fines from other destinations in the country for its pellet manufacturing unit in Mangalore. The export and import cargoes of Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) contributed a significant share to the total cargo handling.
The port handled 6.49 million tonnes (6.71 million tonnes) of crude oil import for MRPL, and 3.33 million tonnes (3.29 million tonnes) of export product cargoes during the period.
It may be mentioned here that the decline in crude import was mainly due to shutdown of the refinery for two weeks in April due to water scarcity in the city.
Tamilvanan hoped that crude handling at the port will increase in the days to come.