Paradip Port Iron Ore Volumes Surge 27 Percent

Paradip Port Authority (PPA) has reported a 26.93% year-on-year increase in iron ore and pellet handling for the April–October period of FY 2026–27, signaling a significant intensification of dry bulk activity on India’s eastern seaboard. The port handled 5.11 million metric tonnes (MT) of these commodities during the seven-month window, up from 4.03 million MT in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year.

The absolute increase of 1.08 million MT underscores Paradip’s strengthening position as a primary gateway for the Indian steel industry’s raw material supply chain. This growth rate significantly outpaces standard annual port throughput increases, suggesting that recent investments in cargo-handling infrastructure and operational efficiency are successfully capturing a larger share of regional bulk trade.

Operational and Market Implications

For shipowners and charterers, the sustained double-digit growth in ore volumes at Paradip points toward higher berth utilization and potentially tighter vessel availability in the Supramax and Panamax segments that typically service these trades. The surge reflects not only increased domestic industrial demand but also the port’s ability to facilitate seamless maritime logistics for essential industrial raw materials.

The performance aligns with the national Viksit Bharat @2047 vision, which prioritizes the expansion of maritime gateways to support large-scale economic growth. Paradip’s strategic location on the East Coast allows it to act as a critical pressure valve and distribution point for the mineral-rich hinterlands of Odisha and neighboring states.

This volume milestone follows other significant developments in the region, including Visakhapatnam Port’s recent achievement of berthing its first Panamax vessel at the inner harbour for alumina exports. Together, these trends indicate a broader scaling of infrastructure capabilities across India’s major eastern ports to accommodate larger vessel classes and higher throughput volumes.

Source: India Shipping News