Chennai port set to be project cargo hub

The Chennai port is all set to emerge as a thriving hub for project cargo traffic in southern India, on the back of growing manufacturing activities in the region.

For the April-December period of fiscal 2008, project cargo handled at the port more than doubled by 127 per cent to 1,85,000 tonnes from 81,000 tonnes in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal. The number of visiting vessels increased to 141 till December from 79 vessels earlier.

Cargo from countries like China, Germany, Korea, Japan and Russia increased to 1,58,791 tonnes in 2007-08 from 54,697 tonnes in 2006-07. Exports to countries like Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, Korea and the US increased to 27,109 tonnes from 26,865 tonnes.

The port expects tremendous traffic growth over the next two years with import and export of project cargoes forecast to reach 200,000 tonnes and 75,000 tonnes respectively, according to a senior Chennai Port Trust official.

By 2010, the import of project cargo will be six times what it is now while exports will be five times the present figure, he added.

An increase in the number of new small fabrications and manufacturing units in and around Chennai has also led to traffic rising. "The surge in import in the next two years will be driven by existing as well as new automobile manufactures in the region," the official said.