Dikhyaa Mohanty 
Odisha’s Paradip Port has created history by achieving the fastest ever 100 million metric tonnes (MMT) cargo throughput in a financial year on November 27, an official statement said on Friday. This is the 9th consecutive year the port has crossed the 100 MMT mark and clocked 100.15 MMT, exhibiting a growth of 4.78 per cent year-on-year basis, 12 days earlier than the last financial year, according to the statement. The coveted 100 MMT mark was achieved on December 9, 2024, during the last financial year. The record was achieved in 241 days in the current fiscal year against 253 days in the previous financial year, the statement said.
The port keeps setting new standards in spite of market difficulties. Paradip Port Authority (PPA) has maintained its lead because to faster operations, technology upgrades, and steady backing from stakeholders. PPA’s standing as a major coastal shipping center has been reinforced by growth in coastal thermal coal, container freight, gypsum & flux, POL, and steel cargo. Approximately 45% of the port’s total cargo volume is handled for coal, which has grown by 3.76% over the same time in the previous fiscal year.
According to the statement, on a year-over-year basis, the volume of containerized cargo increased by 32%, the amount of gypsum and flux increased by 24%, the volume of steel cargo increased by 35%, and the volume of petroleum oil and lubricants (POL) increased by 31%.
Paradip Port Authority (PPA) Chairman P.L. Haranadh said that with a clear focus on efficiency and growth, the port is on track to target an all-time high in this fiscal. He congratulated all employees of the port, the user industries, stevedores, steamer agents, trade unions and public-private partnership operators for the “amazing accomplishment in the ability of the port to serve them”.
The PPA Chairman also expressed gratitude for the ongoing assistance provided by government agencies such as the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, the Odisha government, Indian Railways, Customs, and others. Senior port officials were also present, including Deputy Chairman T. Venu Gopal, Advisor, Traffic, A.K. Bose, and Traffic Manager G. Edison.
