Ports have long served as the foundation of the international economy and trade. Every year, billions of dollars are transported through India’s various seaports. India has the longest coastline situated in the Indian Ocean. These Biggest and Busiest Ports in India are important to the economy and help keep the country connected to the rest of the world. Mumbai is India’s largest port and one of Asia’s most important. We will explore the largest ports in India for exporting and importing products. We also discuss India’s main ports that deal with import and export traffic. And many more interesting facts.

Busiest Sea Ports in India

India has 13 major ports, each contributing uniquely to the country’s maritime trade. Let’s take a closer look at these important ports.

1. Kolkata Port (West Bengal):

Kolkata Port is India’s only major riverine port, built on the Hooghly River. It has a rich history dating back to the British era and is an important gateway for trade with Southeast Asian countries.

2. Paradip Port (Odisha):

Paradip Port has coal-handling capabilities and a huge cargo infrastructure. It’s ideally located to serve the mineral-rich hinterlands of Odisha and plays an important role in the export of iron ore.

3. Visakhapatnam Port (Andhra Pradesh):

The deepest natural port in India, important for central and southern trade. Visakhapatnam Port is known for its capacity to handle large vessels and its importance in the iron ore export industry.

4. Kamarajar Port (Tamil Nadu): 

Kamarajar Port, formerly known as Ennore Port, is India’s first major corporatized port. It is good at handling coal for nearby thermal power stations and has been expanding its capacity to handle other cargo types.

5. Chennai Port (Tamil Nadu): 

A major port in the Bay of Bengal with an extensive railway network. Chennai Port is one of the oldest and busiest ports in India and serves as a major hub for automobile exports.

6. V.O. Chidambaram Port (Tamil Nadu):

Also known as Tuticorin Port, it’s an important part of southern India’s maritime trade. The port is famous for its pearl fishing and connecting India with Sri Lanka and other East Asian countries.

7. Cochin Port (Kerala):

It is located on the Malabar Coast, handling a variety of cargo. Cochin Port is known for its natural harbor and is an important part of spice exports and cruise tourism.

8. New Mangalore Port (Karnataka):

The sole major port in Karnataka, known for handling iron ore and petroleum products. It serves as a gateway for coffee exports from the area and has modern facilities for handling containerized cargo.

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9. Mormugao Port (Goa):

Mormugao Port specializes in iron ore exports, handling a major portion of India’s iron ore trade. It also serves as a major hub for cruise tourism, capitalizing on Goa’s popularity as a tourist destination.

10. Mumbai Port, (Maharashtra):

Mumbai Port, also called Bombay Port, is located on the west coast of India in the state of Maharashtra and covers an area of about 700 square kilometers. It is home to two main ports – the Mumbai Port Trust and the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust. It is the biggest and most busiest port in India and handles about half of the country’s maritime trade.

11. Jawaharlal Nehru Port (Maharashtra):

Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT), situated in Navi Mumbai, is the largest container port in India. It plays an important role in India’s international trade, handling over 50% of the country’s containerized cargo.

12. Port Blair (Andaman and Nicobar Islands):

Port Blair, located in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, plays an important role in the region’s trade. In 2023, the combined cargo traffic of non-major seaports in the islands such as Port Blair, reached approximately 1.88 million metric tons. 

13. Kandla Port (Gujarat):

The Kandla Port, 90 km from the Gulf of Kutch, was established in the 1950s as India’s first export processing port in the Kandla Creek area. 

List of 13 Busiest Ports in India

Wrapping It Up

In India, seaports serve as export and import hubs, transferring product delivery from the ocean to truck, railway, and river transport. The above list of the 13 largest seaports in India includes information about the busiest International sea port in India,  India’s largest sea port as well as its main export and import ports.

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