A fall in industrial activity and the global slowdown in demand brought down the cargo handled by 12 major ports (owned by the Centre) in the country by 5.5 per cent in the first quarter of the current financial year. The major ports recorded a growth of 5 per cent in the total cargo handled in the corresponding period last year.
Due to decline in the demand of steel, as industrial production also went down, the slowdown has been reflected in the fall of coking coal imports by 11 per cent this year against a growth of 14 per cent in the first quarter last year.
Besides, as the mining crisis continued, the impact of iron-ore export ban further aggravated the fall in total cargo with a 33 per cent decline in April-June 2012 compared to 14 per cent decline for the corresponding period last year.
Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust witnessed a 2 per cent increase in traffic due to increase in the container cargo. (Click on graphic)