Coal news and updates

Paradeep Port handles highest coal traffic

Paradeep Port Trust (PPT) has handled the highest coal traffic among all major ports in the April-August period.

The port logged thermal coal traffic of 12.5 million tonne (mt) in the period under review, 13.07% higher than 11.09 mt in the same period of the previous fiscal. The port's coking coal traffic also went up marginally from 3.65 mt to 3.66 mt.

Thermal coal traffic handled by other ports in the eastern sector like Visakhapatnam (1.2 mt) and Kolkata (0.75 mt) was much lower. Ennore Port saw a decline in its thermal coal traffic to 9.79 mt from 10.62 mt, fall of 7.81%, said data by the Indian Ports Association.

PPT logged an increase of 7.12% in its overall cargo traffic from 28.58 mt to 30.62 mt. Ports at Viskahapatnam (-9.57%) and New Mangalore (-4.24%) suffered de-growth in their total traffic in the period. In volume terms, PPT was only next to Kandla Port that logged total traffic of 42.6 mt.

Mormugao Port recorded the highest growth of 27% in total traffic in the period followed by Chidambaranar (25.65%) and Kolkata (22.84%). Average growth by all major ports was 5.53% in the period.

PPT has also released its cargo traffic figures for the April-September period. During this period, the port logged overall cargo traffic of 36.06 mt, 5% rise over 34.35 mt achieved in the corresponding period of last fiscal.

Thermal coal traffic increased by 8.71% by handling 14.83 mt against 13.64

mt handled during the corresponding period of previous year. POL traffic also registered a growth of 6.40% by handling 9.52 mt against 8.94 mt handled in the comparable period of 2014-15.

The port handled 771 vessels in the April-September period, 11.41% increase over 692 vessels in the year ago period.

source: http://www.business-standard.com