Record cargo handling at Kakinada port

Kakinada Anchorage Port created a record by handling around 28 lakh metric tonnes of cargo worth around Rs 2,283 crore during 2005-06. The port earned revenues of around Rs 11 crore, twice as high as that of last year.

N Shridhar, port director, said it was for the first time that the port handled such a huge cargo in the last 30 years. "We have decided to handle 40 lakh tonnes of cargo during 2006-07,'' he added.

One of the reasons for the increase in cargo handling was a steep increase in rice exports to African countries from East and West Godavari districts.

The Anchorage port for the first time also attracted export of organic manure (1,500 metric tonnes) and sorghum (46,760 metric tonnes) this year.

Soybean extraction exports increased to 5,506 metric tonnes this year, as compared to 5,035 metric tonnes during the previous year. Similarly, rice bran extraction exports also rose from 21,250 metric tonnes to 104,760 metric tonnes between 2004-05 and 2005-06. Feldspar exports was up from 2,700 metric tonnes to 3,200 metric tonnes, as compared to last year.

However, exports of sand and maize declined considerably this year. While 1,97,550 metric tonnes of maize was exported during 2004-05, in 2005-06 only 25,060 metric tonnes was exported .

While 6,45,687 metric tonnes of rice and 37,541 metric tonnes of cement was exported during 2004-05, the cargo was 12,61,604 metric tonnes and 3,83,888 metric tonnes respectively during 2005-06.

Imports of murate of potash (4,89,056 mt tn), rock phosphate (62,055 mt tn), industrial salt (1,43,390 mt tn), MA phosphate (11,000 mt tn) and crude palm oil (18,850 mt tn ) too increased.