Cargo volume at 12 major ports marginally up at 524 MT in April-December

The country's 12 major ports recorded a marginal 0.98 per cent growth in cargo volumes at 524.02 million tonnes (MT) during the April-December period this year, according to the Indian Ports Association (IPA).

The ports had handled 518.93 MT of cargo during the corresponding period of the last financial year.

India has 12 major ports -- Deendayal (erstwhile Kandla), Mumbai, JNPT, Mormugao, New Mangalore, Cochin, Chennai, Kamarajar (earlier Ennore), V.O. Chidambaranar, Visakhapatnam, Paradip and Kolkata (including Haldia).

While the handling of iron ore saw a 32.01 per cent jump to 39.36 MT during the period, thermal coal shipments declined by 17.08 per cent