VISAKHAPATNAM: Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA) recorded cargo throughput of 91.17 million metric tonnes (MMT) in the financial year 2025-26, registering a growth of about 10.35 per cent over the previous year. The performance marks an improvement over 82.62 MMT handled in 2024-25, 81.09 MMT in 2023-24, and 73.75 MMT in 2022-23.
A stakeholders’ meet was held in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday. Speaking on the occasion, VPA Chairperson M Angamuthu attributed the growth to coordinated efforts of port officials, stakeholders, and supporting agencies including Railways, Customs and the State government. He asked the team to sustain the momentum and work towards achieving cargo throughput of over 100 MMT.
He informed that the port is planning to operate Mulapeta Port in collaboration with the Government of Andhra Pradesh and that a special purpose vehicle is being considered jointly for the proposed Duggarajapatnam Port and a shipbuilding unit. He added that steps are being taken to shift towards handling non-dusty cargo, with plans to divert additional coal cargo operations to Mulapeta, and it would be supported through increased mechanisation.
Angamuthu indicated that growth was driven by higher volumes in key commodities, including petroleum, oil and lubricants (POL) and crude at 28.11 MMT, along with increases in iron ore and fertilisers. The port recorded a highest single-day cargo handling of 5.5 lakh metric tonnes and handled 24 vessel movements in 24 hours.
Enhanced marine systems, including vessel traffic management and navigation support, along with infrastructure upgrades such as berths, storage facilities, road connectivity and an extensive railway network, supported cargo handling and evacuation. The port handled large vessels and continued the use of operational practices for heavy-lift cargo.