India’s major ports record 915 million tonnes (MT) of cargo in Financial Year 2025-26. The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said the performance reflects consistent growth across major ports. The Ministry said these major ports surpassed the annual target of 904 MT between March 2025 and April 2026. This marks a year-on-year growth of 7.06 per cent.
The top-performing ports were Deendayal Port Authority (160.11 MT), followed by Paradip Port Authority (156.45 MT) and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) (102.01 MT). Visakhapatnam Port Authority, New Mangalore Port Authority, Mumbai Port Authority, and Chennai Port Authority also showed strong performances.
Major Ports In India List: Western and Eastern Coast, Types, Import & Export
India has 13 major ports, of which 12 are government-owned and 1 private, across its eastern and western coasts. These ports handle bulk container and cargo traffic, including petroleum, oil, coal, iron ore, and finished goods.
- Kandla Port (Gujarat)
- Jawaharlal Nehru Port (Maharashtra)
- Mumbai Port
- Visakhapatnam Port (Andhra Pradesh)
- Chennai Port
- Mormugao Port (Goa)
- Port Blair Port (Andaman and Nicobar Islands)
- Kolkata Port
- Paradip Port (Orissa)
- Cochin Port (Kerala)
- Tuticorin Port (Tamil Nadu)
- Ennore Port (Chennai)
- Panambur Port Mangalore/ New Mangalore Port (Karnataka)
Major Ports on the Western Coast
Six major ports are on the west coast of India. These ports are located across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa, and Kerala.
| Port Name | Description |
| Deendayal Port (Kandla), Gujarat | India's largest port by volume, specializing in petroleum, chemicals, and fertilizer. |
| Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT/Nhava Sheva), Maharashtra | Largest container port in India, handling over 50% of container cargo. |
| Mumbai Port, Maharashtra | One of the oldest, largest natural harbors. |
| Mormugao Port, Goa | Key iron ore exporter |
| New Mangalore Port, Karnataka | Known for handling iron ore, oil, and fertilisers |
| Cochin Port, Kerala | Natural harbor dealing with spices, coffee, and tea. |
Major Ports on the Eastern Coast
The east coast of India is home to six major ports located in West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.
| Port Name | Description |
| Kolkata/Haldia Port (Syama Prasad Mookerjee), West Bengal | Oldest operating riverine port, handling iron ore and coal. |
| Paradip Port, Odisha | Natural harbor primarily for iron and aluminum exports. |
| Visakhapatnam Port, Andhra Pradesh | Deepest port in India, known for iron ore exports to Japan. |
| Chennai Port, Tamil Nadu | Second busiest port and large artificial port. |
| Kamarajar Port (Ennore), Tamil Nadu | India’s first corporate/public-listed major port. |
| V.O. Chidambaranar Port (Tuticorin), Tamil Nadu | Artificial port handling fertilizers and petrochemicals |
Apart from the above ports,
- Port Blair is an island port located on the southeastern coast of South Andaman Island. It was declared the 13th major port of India in 2010.
- Mundra Port is India’s largest private port which surpasses the 200 MMT cargo.
Types of Ports by Feature
- Largest by Cargo Volume: Deendayal Port (Kandla).
- Largest Container Port: Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT).
- Deepest Port: Visakhapatnam Port.
- Oldest Port: Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port (Kolkata).
- Largest Natural Port: Mumbai Port.
- Only Corporate Port: Kamarajar Port (Ennore).
- Major Private Port: Mundra Port (Gujarat)
Top Imports and Exports
- Major Imports: Crude Oil (Kandla, Mumbai), Coal (Mundra, Paradip), Machinery (JNPT), Chemicals (Kandla), and Fertilisers.
- Major Exports: Petroleum Products (Kandla, Jamnagar), Iron Ore (Mormugao, Paradip), Textiles (JNPT, Chennai), Automobiles (Ennore, Mundra), and Agricultural Products.
