Business & Finance

APSEZ Sets New Monthly Cargo Record, Crosses 50 Million Tonnes in August

By PTI

India's largest port operator, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ), handled 50 million tonnes of cargo in August, marking a 19 per cent increase from 41.9 million tonnes recorded in the same month last year, the company announced. The rise comes at a time when India's economy continues to grow despite global trade being affected by geopolitical tensions, changing shipping routes and supply-chain adjustments. The growth in August was seen across multiple segments. Dry cargo volumes rose 25 per cent year-on-year, while container volumes grew 15 per cent. Commodities such as coal, iron ore, limestone and other minerals also contributed to the higher numbers. International terminals played a role in the increase as well. The North Queensland Export Terminal (NQXT) in Australia added to overall volumes, while the Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT) in Sri Lanka continued to scale up operations. Domestic assets including Mundra port in Gujarat, Krishnapatnam port in Andhra Pradesh, and the port of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania also posted growth. According to APSEZ, August's record follows a strong performance throughout the financial year so far. The company handled 43.1 million tonnes in April, 48.3 million tonnes in May, 46.8 million tonnes in June, and 46.3 million tonnes in July, before reaching the 50 million-tonne mark in August. For the first five months of FY27, APSEZ's cumulative cargo volume stood at 234.4 million tonnes, a 16 per cent increase over the same period last year. Dry cargo volumes for this period rose 17 per cent, while container volumes increased 15 per cent. The company's performance mirrors broader economic trends, with India's real GDP growing 7.8 per cent in the April-June quarter of FY27. Manufacturing expanded by 9.2 per cent and services by 10 per cent during the same period. Meanwhile, global trade continues to face disruptions due to geopolitical tensions and shifting shipping routes, prompting companies to reassess supply chains. These changes are affecting cargo movement across trade corridors, increasing the value of ports connected to multiple markets and cargo types. APSEZ's network of ports in India and abroad provides it with access to a wide range of commodities and trade routes. The company's operations span ports, marine services and logistics, enabling cargo movement through various gateways as trade patterns shift. Its logistics division also connects ports with inland markets. In August, rail cargo volumes reached 54,131 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), a 6 per cent rise from July. The company's latest monthly record adds to its long-term growth plans, as APSEZ aims to handle 1 billion tonnes of cargo annually by FY31.