Kandla: The Deendayal Port Authority (Kandla) has regained its position as India’s top major port after two years, surpassing Paradip Port Authority by handling a record 160.11 million tonnes (MT) of cargo in FY26, its highest-ever throughput and a 7% rise over FY25’s 150 MT.

As per the reports, Paradip handled 156.45 MT during the same period. Kandla had ceded the top spot to Paradip in FY24 but staged a strong comeback driven by growth across key cargo segments.

Cargo performance saw sharp gains, with container traffic rising 54%, fertilisers up 32%, liquid cargo increasing 23.4%, iron and steel shipments growing 43%, and clay volumes up 17%.

These gains helped offset declines in timber (down 4.3%), salt (12.4%), crude & POL at Vadinar (down 5%), and coal (down 2.8%), highlighting the port’s diversified cargo base and operational efficiency.

Port officials said crossing the 160 MT milestone reflects the collective effort, resilience, and coordinated functioning of the entire port ecosystem. DeshGujarat