Coal shipments — both thermal/steam and coking coal — handled by the 12 state-run ports saw a jump in the first half of FY19.

The ports handled 51.452 million tonne (mt) of thermal and steam coal in the April-September period, against 41.473 mt in the same period a year ago, registering a growth of 24.06 per cent.

The ports handled 26.459 mt of coking coal during the period (against 24.266 mt a year earlier), clocking a growth of 9.04 per cent, according to the Shipping Ministry.

Paradip Port Trust in Odisha handled the highest thermal and steam coal during the first half at 16.009 mt, from 12.116 mt last year.

Kamarajar Port Ltd — India’s only Central government-owned port that is run as a company — in Tamil Nadu handled 11.799 mt (10.597 mt).

Deendayal Port Trust in Gujarat handled 8.133 mt (5.538 mt).

Private port

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ), India’s biggest private port operator, posted a 13 per cent growth in coal loadings during the first half handling 32.23 mt of coal (both thermal steam and coking) compared to 28.49 mt a year earlier.

APSEZ handles coal at its ports located at Mundra, Hazira, Dahej, Dhamra and terminals at major ports such as Visakhapatnam Port Trust, Mormugao Port Trust and Tuna-Tekra in Deendayal Port Trust.

While coal handling surged during the first half at the 12 major ports run by the Centre, iron ore cargo registered a decline of 10.65 per cent to 19.393 mt from 21.704 mt a year earlier, due to a court-imposed ban on extraction in Goa, India’s top producing State.