V O Chidambaranar Port at Thoothkudi, Tamil Nadu crossed the previous financial year's volume of 32.41 million tonnes on February 18, which is 42 days ahead of the close of the current financial. The government had set a cargo volume target of 36.80 million tonnes for financial year 2015-16.
This year, up to February 18, 2016, the port has maintained a cargo growth at 17.18 per cent over the same period of in the previous financial year.
The major cargo that contributed to this achievement includes thermal coal (15.29 per cent growth), containers (9.54 per cent growth), industrial coal (9.21 per cent growth) and fertilisers (11.78 per cent growth).
Copper concentrate, Rock Phosphate, Construction material, Lime Stone have also contributed significantly in achieving this record.