Chennai and Kamarajar Ports cross 100 million tonnes of cargo handling

CHENNAI : Chennai Port and its subsidiary Kamarajar Port achieved a milestone in 2024-25 with the total cargo throughput exceeding 100 million tonnes (mt ) for the first time. Both together handled 103.37 mt during the fiscal ending March 31, 2025. The combined income from operations was ₹2,200 crore, Sunil Paliwal, Chairperson for Chennai Port Authority (ChPA) and also the Chairman of Kamarajar Port Ltd (KPL), said.

The Chennai port handled 54.96 mt while the Kamarajar port’s throughput was 48.41 mt . The handling represented a combined year-over-year (y-o-y) increase of 6.7 per cent, which was above the 6 per cent target fixed by the Union Shipping Minister, he told newspersons on Thursday. While the Chennai port recorded a 6.5 per cent growth in cargo handling during the last fiscal, Kamarajar port’s volume was up 6.9 per cent.

For the current fiscal, Paliwal expects the combined cargo volume to grow at around 7 per cent.

For the Chennai port, out of the total cargo handling, contribution from containers was 63.4 per cent followed by liquid bulk (27.7 per cent); dry bulk (5 per cent) and break bulk (4 per cent). In contrast, dry bulk contributed 56.9 per cent of Kamarajar port’s volume followed by container (27.2 per cent); liquid bulk (11.1 per cent) and break bulk (4.8 per cent), he said.

On the financial performance, Paliwal said the ChPA reported a net surplus of ₹81 crore on operating income of ₹1,088 crore with capex at ₹147 crore. During the year, it implemented a wage settlement and consolidation of pension with the total financial implication at ₹325 crore. There was also loan pre-payment and contribution to pension fund to the tune of ₹277 crore during the fiscal, he said.

The KPL reported the highest net profit of ₹546 crore with the company’s networth reaching ₹3,040 crore, he said.

On the ₹1,424 crore multi modal logistics park constructed at Mappedu, Paliwal said the first phase is expected to be ready by February 2026. There is a strong focus on upgrading infrastructure, connectivity, capacity expansion and storage areas, he added.

The project was conceptualised 12 years ago but it did not kick off due to many hurdles, said Paliwal.

In October 2021, an MoU was signed between Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation, National Highways Logistics Management Ltd and the Chennai Port Trust for the project.

Last year, the construction of India’s first Multimodal Logistics Park at Mappedu near Chennai was entrusted to Reliance Industries. It is located 52 km from the Chennai port, 80 km from Ennore Port and 87 km from Kattupalli Port. It will be a focal point of logistics in the southern region. It is estimated to cater to around 7.17 mt of cargo over 45 years.

On the development of the internal road network at Chennai port, Paliwal said in the first phase, the road widening and improvement works will be taken up between 2025 and 2028 at a cost of ₹54 crore.