Boxes fall 5.6pc as bulk rises 3.6pc at Indian ports April-October

INDIA`s major ports have posted 3.6 per cent growth from April to October on the back of higher demand for bulk commodities while container traffic fell 5.68 per cent during the same period.
The ports, under the jurisdiction of the central government, handled a total of 314.63 million tonnes during the seven-month period. They include Chennai, Kochi, Kandla, JNPT, Mumbai, New Mangalore, Paradip and Visakhapatnam.
Growth has been driven by petroleum and lubricants, iron ore and thermal coal with container traffic falling 5.68 per cent year on year to 3.8 million TEU..
Commodity products that experienced slackening demand during April-October against year-ago figures were fertilisers (finished and raw), coking coal and containers, according from the Indian Ports Association (IPA).
The IPA said major harbours handled 101.11 million tonnes of petroleum and lubricants, up 2.28 per cent year on year. Iron ore was up 11.6 per cent while thermal coal rose 13.02 per cent.