DBT Bureau
Pune, 26 Oct 2025
Charting a new course for economic growth, India’s maritime sector is cruising ahead with record performance across ports, coastal shipping, and inland waterways. The sector’s progress underscores its critical role in strengthening the nation.
India’s Ports Set New Benchmarks
- India’s ports sector has witnessed a transformative leap, with total port capacity nearly doubling from 1,400 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) to 2,762 MMTPA, reflecting major investments in modernisation and infrastructure.
- Cargo handling volumes have grown impressively from 972 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) to 1,594 MMT, signaling robust growth in maritime trade and port efficiency with major ports handling approximately 855 million tonnes of cargo in FY 2024-2025, an increase from 819 million tonnes in FY 2023-24.
- Operational performance has improved significantly, as the average vessel turnaround time has been reduced from 93 hours to just 48 hours, enhancing overall productivity and global competitiveness.
- The sector’s financial strength has surged, with the net annual surplus rising sharply from ₹1,026 crore to ₹9,352 crore, underscoring improved revenue generation and cost management.
- Efficiency indicators have also strengthened, with the operating ratio improving from 73% to 43%, marking a major step toward sustainable and profitable port operations.
Indian Shipping Expands Fleet, Capacity, and Workforce
- India’s shipping sector has charted steady growth, with the number of Indian-flagged vessels rising from 1,205 to 1,549, reflecting the nation’s expanding maritime presence.
- The gross tonnage of the Indian fleet has increased from 10 million gross tonnes (MGT) to 13.52 MGT, underscoring a stronger and more capable shipping capacity.
- Coastal shipping has gained significant momentum, with cargo movement nearly doubling from 87 million metric tonnes (MMT) to 165 MMT, reinforcing the shift toward efficient, low-cost, and eco-friendly transport modes.
India’s Inland Waterways Surge Ahead
- In a landmark development for inland water transport sector, the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) reported a record cargo movement of 146 MMT in 2025, up from 18 MMT in 2014, an increase of around 710 percent.
- The number of operational waterways has increased remarkably from 3 to 29, reflecting a major boost to India’s inland transport network.
- IWAI handed over the Haldia Multi-Modal Terminal (MMT) to IRC Natural Resources, marking a major step in advancing inland waterway infrastructure and promoting multimodal logistics under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. Built with World Bank’s assistance, the West Bengal terminal has a capacity of 3.08 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA).
- Ferry and Ro-Pax (a ship that carries both vehicles and passengers) have also gained strong traction, carrying over 7.5 crore passengers in 2024–25, reflecting growing public adoption of water-based transport for safe and efficient travel.
