Cargo volume handled by Mundra port stood at 24 million tonne (mn t) during April and June and this is more than the 23 mn t handled by Kandla port in the same period.

   

With this, the Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ)-run port became the first private port to overtake the cargo volume of a major port in the country.

   

For the last five years, Mundra port’s cargo-handling capacity has been growing at 25 percent on a year-on-year basis.

   

The port also emerged as the largest merchant port in India in terms of cargo handling, said Rajeeva Sinha, whole-time director of APSEZ. Both ports are located in the Kutch district of Gujarat.

   

Owing to the aggressive expansion and the risk-taking ability of the Adani group, Mundra port has developed well in recent years. Kandla was number one port for the past five years and it the position has gone to Mundra port.

   

The centre had set a target of 97 million tonne per annum (mn tpa) of cargo for Kandla port to handle this year while Mundra is likely to cross 100 mn tpa mark, reports indicate.

   In 2012-13, Mundra became the country’s second-largest port by handling 82 mn t, up from 64 mn t in the previous year. In comparison, Kandla handled 93.6 mn t of cargo, up from 82.5 mn t.