The Top 10 Indian Ports Shaping Freight, Trade, and Supply Chains

Key Highlights:

• India’s top 10 ports handled ~855 MMT of cargo in FY 2024–25, showcasing a busy and growing maritime trade ecosystem.
• Paradip Port (Odisha) leads with 13.14 MMT, specializing in bulk commodities like iron ore, coal, and fertilizers.
• Deendayal Port (Kandla, Gujarat) moves over 12 MMT, excelling in bulk, liquid, and general cargo; key for grains and industrial inputs.
• Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPA, Navi Mumbai) handles ~7.56 MMT, India’s largest container hub for finished goods and agro products.
• Visakhapatnam Port (7.33 MMT) offers deepwater versatility, catering to steel, fertilizers, seafood, and machinery exports.
• Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port (Kolkata) links inland waterways and northeastern trade corridors with ~5.93 MMT cargo.
• Mumbai, Chennai, and Kamarajar Ports collectively handle bulk, petroleum, industrial, and southern industrial exports efficiently.
• V.O. Chidambaranar Port (Thoothukudi) (~3.57 MMT) is a dependable industrial workhorse for minerals, fertilizers, and project cargo.
• Cochin Port (Kerala) specializes in value-driven exports like seafood, spices, coconut products, and processed foods (~3.4 MMT).
• Strategic significance for B2B trade: Knowledge of port strengths, cargo types, and connectivity helps optimize logistics, reduce costs, and improve supply chain efficiency.

India’s Top Ports: Engines of Economic Turnover

In the bustling world of global commerce, it’s ports that act as the gateways — the silent giants where steel meets sea, and where the rhythm of import-export flows is set. For businesses dealing in bulk goods, commodities, and manufactured products, understanding the biggest ports in India isn’t just trivia — it’s strategic intelligence that can help shape logistics, pricing, and competitive edge.

India’s maritime ecosystem is clearly hitting its stride and flexing its muscles. In the financial year 2024–25, the top sea ports in India handled around 855 million metric tonnes of cargo. It is proof that trade activity is picking up pace and ports are working at full throttle. The figure, as per the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, shows just how busy India’s shipping lanes have become and quietly carries the weight of a growing economy.
Let’s break down the top 10 sea ports in India by cargo volume — the workhorses that keep the wheels of trade greased and spinning — and explore what they mean for the B2B community.

Top 10 Ports in India by Cargo Handled (June 2025)

Sources: Indian Ports Association (IPA), Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW), Government of India – “Cargo Handled at Major Ports, June 2025” (Monthly Port Traffic Statistics).

1. Paradip Port (Odisha) – Where Bulk Meets Business

Paradip tops the list as the biggest port in India, pushing over 13.14 MMT of goods through its gates in June 2025. Its east-coast location makes it a magnet for dry bulk commodities like iron ore, coal, and fertilizers — lifeblood materials for industry.
For exporters and importers, Paradip is often the first stop for raw materials bound for manufacturing hubs, and a key node in steel and energy supply chains.

2. Deendayal Port (Kandla, Gujarat) – The Strategic Giant

Often regarded among the largest ports in India by cargo volume, Deendayal’s cranes are always in motion. Handling more than 12 MMT, this west-coast colossus is a preferred outlet for bulk, liquid, and general cargo, tying northern hinterlands to the global market. 
For B2B players, Kandla’s strength lies in scale and connectivity — a port that absorbs bulk grains, minerals, and industrial inputs with an almost insatiable appetite. Bulk shipments of wheat, rice, maize, and oilseeds are frequently exported through this port. 

3. Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPA, Navi Mumbai) – India’s Container Hub

When you’re talking containers — boxes that represent finished goods, electronics, garments, and manufactured products — JNPA is where the spotlight belongs. With around 7.56 MMT of cargo in recent figures, this port wears the crown as India’s largest container gateway, linking domestic producers to Europe, the Middle East, and beyond. 
JNPA is one of the most preferred shipping ports in India for export of agro goods that are containerized. For instance, basmati rice, processed food items, pulses, spices, and value-added agri products are most commonly exported from this port.

4. Visakhapatnam Port (Andhra Pradesh) – Deepwater Versatility

Visakhapatnam moves roughly 7.33 MMT of goods. Its advantage? A deep water channel and a diversified cargo mix — from steel and fertilizers to seafood and machinery. This makes it a favorite for industries that require consistency and range, rather than just bulk tonnage. The port majorly handles the export of commodities like frozen sea food and buffalo meat along with commodities like cereals and spices. 

5. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port (Kolkata) – Eastern Trade Gateway

Kolkata’s riverine port handles nearly 5.93 MMT and plays a unique role, threading inland waterways with maritime routes. With access to northeastern states and Bangladesh, this port is a must-watch for exporters and importers looking to tap cross-border corridors.

6. Mumbai Port – Heritage Meets Hubs

With around 5.68 MMT on the books, the old-school Mumbai Port still holds its ground amid newer giants. While container traffic has largely migrated to JNPA, this port remains critical for bulk and petroleum products serving the financial capital.

7. Chennai Port – Southern Gateway

Chennai’s 5.08 MMT throughput showcases its role as the trade lifeline for southern industrial belts. Manufacturers of automobiles, machinery, and textiles find Chennai’s services tuned to diverse cargo requirements.

8. Kamarajar Port (Ennore) – Rising Star in Bulk

Handling around 4.41 MMT, Kamarajar is rapidly improving its playbook, especially for coal, iron ore, and industrial cargo. Its growth signals Tamil Nadu’s positioning as a regional export hub. Kamarajar also handles limited volumes of bulk agro commodities such as maize and feed ingredients as majorly is meant for industrial cargo. 

9. V.O. Chidambaranar Port (Thoothukudi) – The Industrial Workhorse

V.O. Chidambaranar Port, commonly known as Thoothukudi, is among the sea ports in India that doesn’t shout but delivers day in and day out. Clocking around 3.57 million metric tonnes in cargo volumes, it has carved out a reputation as a dependable industrial workhorse rather than a flashy transshipment hub. This is where mineral exports, fertilizers, bulk liquids, and project cargo quietly move in and out, feeding the engines of southern India’s industrial ecosystem.

10. Cochin Port Authority – Kerala’s Deepwater Link

Cochin Port may sit at the tail end of the top-ten list by volume, but it more than holds its own when it comes to value. Handling roughly 3.4 million metric tonnes of cargo, this deepwater port isn’t in a race for bulk numbers. Instead, it plays a steadier game, supporting export businesses where timing, care, and consistency matter more than sheer scale.

But what really sets Cochin apart is the strategic location and the amount of niche agriculture and marine exports that are exported from this port. Seafood, spices, coconut products, and processed foods are frequently exported from this port with a dependable flow. It is through this port that these commodities find their way to buyers deep into the Middle East, Europe, and parts of Asia. 

Beyond the Numbers: What These Ports Mean for B2B

For businesses engaged in import-export, these ports are more than dots on a map — they are logistical crossroads, cost centres, and strategic assets. India’s maritime sector handles the vast majority of trade by volume, moving raw materials and finished goods with increasing efficiency and scale. 
Understanding where your shipments pass through — and why — can influence everything from freight costs to delivery windows, tariff planning, and network design.
Ports like Mundra, while a private port and not in the government “major ports” list, are also juggernauts in cargo and container traffic and deserve mention in planning discussions. 

The Bigger Picture: India’s Shipping Industry

India’s maritime sector isn’t just shifting boxes and bulk anymore—it’s clearly finding its stride. Cargo volumes at largest ports in India have been ticking up year after year, helped along by growing container traffic and a wider mix of goods moving through the system, from coal and crude to agricultural commodities. The pace is steadier, the lanes are busier, and the ports are carrying more weight in the country’s trade story.
For B2B players, this translates into more corridors to leverage, stronger infrastructure to tap, and competitive freight options to negotiate. Navigating these waters with informed choices — about ports, carriers, and cargo handling — can be the difference between smooth trading and logistical gridlock.