APSEZ, India's largest port operator, reported achieving a record cargo handling volume in August—50 million tons. This figure demonstrated a 19% growth compared to the same month last year. The increase in volume was driven by more active domestic economic activity, increased container trade, and diversification of transported goods.
This growth occurred against the backdrop of India's continuing economic expansion, despite global trade facing changes due to geopolitical tensions, shifts in shipping routes, and supply chain restructuring.
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The growth was uniform across all segments. In August, the volume of dry cargo increased by 25% year-on-year, while container traffic grew by 15%. The supply of raw materials, including coal, iron ore, limestone, and other minerals, also contributed significantly to the overall growth.
International operations also contributed to the increase in volumes. The North Queensland Export Terminal (NQXT) in Queensland, Australia, and the Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT) in Sri Lanka continued to ramp up their activity. Furthermore, growth was observed at existing facilities such as Mundra in Gujarat, Krishnapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, and the Port of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.
According to APSEZ, the August record concludes a strong start to the financial year. Prior to this, the company processed 43.1 million tons in April, 48.3 million tons in May, 46.8 million tons in June, and 46.3 million tons in July before reaching the 50 million ton mark in August.
The cumulative cargo volume for the first five months of the financial year 27 reached 234.4 million tons, which is 16% more than in the same period last year. Dry cargo grew by 17%, and container volumes grew by 15%.
These achievements are made amid sustained domestic growth: India's real GDP increased by 7.8% in the April-June quarter of FY 27, with production growing by 9.2% and services by 10%.
Simultaneously, world trade faces disruptions due to geopolitical conflicts, changes in sea routes, and companies' efforts to restructure logistics chains. These shifts are altering the movement of goods along trade corridors and increasing the importance of ports with access to multiple markets and cargo categories.
APSEZ's network of ports and overseas terminals provides the company with access to diverse goods and trade routes. The company operates in the fields of ports, maritime services, and logistics, allowing cargo to pass through various gateways as trade models evolve. The logistics business also ensures internal connectivity between ports and markets; in August, rail transport reached 54,131 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU), which is 6% higher than in July.
This latest monthly record contributes to APSEZ's long-term expansion, as the company aims to handle 1 billion tons of cargo annually by FY 31.