MAJOR PORTS IN INDIA: AN UPDATED LIST FOR 2025 AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE

Major Ports in India: An Updated List for 2025 and Their Significance

Major Ports in India: An Updated List for 2025 and Their Significance

Blog Article

India’s maritime sector has always been a vital link between the nation’s economy and global trade networks. With nearly 95% of India’s trade by The Trade Vision volume and 70% by value transported through maritime routes, major ports continue to play an indispensable role. As we look ahead to 2025, India’s major ports stand modernized, better connected, and strategically equipped to handle the growing demands of international and domestic trade.

This article provides an updated list of major ports in India for 2025 and explores their significance in driving economic growth and regional development.

Updated List of Major Ports in India (2025)


As of 2025, India has 12 major ports, administered by the central government under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. These ports are spread along India’s vast coastline of over 7,500 kilometers, covering both the east and west coasts.

Here’s the updated list:

Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT), Maharashtra

  • India’s largest container port, handling nearly half of the country’s containerized cargo.

  • Plays a key role in serving the industrial and manufacturing hubs of western India.


Mumbai Port, Maharashtra

  • Historic gateway port; crucial for bulk cargo, liquid cargo, and cruise tourism.

  • Strategic for coastal shipping and urban economic activity.


Deendayal Port (Kandla), Gujarat

  • Major handler of dry cargo and crude oil.

  • Supports industries in Gujarat and the northern hinterland.


Mormugao Port, Goa

  • Predominantly exports iron ore and coal.

  • Significant for Goa’s mining economy and coastal development.


New Mangalore Port, Karnataka

  • Handles petroleum, chemicals, and container cargo.

  • Key to Karnataka’s energy and agricultural exports.


Cochin Port, Kerala

  • India’s premier port for container transshipment through the Vallarpadam Terminal.

  • Vital for cruise tourism and regional coastal trade.


Chennai Port, Tamil Nadu

  • One of the oldest and busiest ports.

  • Supports automobile exports and industrial supply chains in South India.


Kamarajar Port (Ennore), Tamil Nadu

  • India’s first corporatized major port; specializes in handling coal and automobiles.

  • Focused on becoming an environmentally sustainable port.


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V.O. Chidambaranar Port (Tuticorin), Tamil Nadu

  • Handles diverse cargo including containers, salt, and fertilizer.

  • A critical maritime gateway for southern Tamil Nadu.


Visakhapatnam Port, Andhra Pradesh

  • The largest port on the eastern coast by volume.

  • Major handler of iron ore, coal, and petroleum products.


Paradip Port, Odisha

  • Eastern India’s leading port for thermal coal and mineral exports.

  • Integral to mineral-based industries in Odisha and neighboring states.


Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port (Kolkata), West Bengal

  • Comprises the Kolkata Dock System and Haldia Dock Complex.

  • India’s only riverine major port; crucial for trade with Northeast India and neighboring countries.


Significance of Major Ports in 2025


Economic Backbone:
Major ports handle over 60% of India’s total cargo traffic. Their efficient functioning directly impacts the country’s trade balance and competitiveness.

Employment and Industrial Growth:
They generate millions of direct and indirect jobs and serve as lifelines for industrial clusters, Special Economic Zones (SEZs), and hinterland markets.

Gateway to Global Trade:
Ports like JNPT and Chennai are critical nodes in global supply chains, facilitating exports of textiles, machinery, automobiles, and IT hardware.

Focus on Sustainability:
Many ports are investing in green energy, shore power supply, and eco-friendly dredging to reduce their environmental footprint.

Boost to Coastal Shipping:
Major ports are key drivers of India’s coastal shipping push, helping to decongest roads and railways and reduce logistics costs.

Future Outlook


Through initiatives like the Sagarmala Programme, the Indian government aims to modernize port infrastructure, promote port-led industrialization, and enhance multimodal connectivity. By 2025, capacity augmentation, digital transformation, and PPP-driven projects are expected to strengthen India’s position as a major maritime nation.

Conclusion


India’s major ports in 2025 exemplify a robust, future-ready maritime network that underpins the country’s Major Ports India economic aspirations. Their significance extends far beyond cargo handling — they are engines of growth, trade gateways, and symbols of India’s maritime heritage and progress.

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