New Mangalore Port cargo handling up 19% in April

A.J. VINAYAK, THE HINDU BUSINESS LINE
MANGALORE, MAY 3:
In spite of a decline in crude handling, NMPT recorded 18.9 per cent growth in cargo handling in April. In the first month of the current financial year, NMPT (New Mangalore Port Trust) handled 2.93 million tonnes of cargo, against 2.46 million tonnes in the corresponding previous period.

However, the two-week shutdown of MRPL (Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd) brought down the crude handling at NMPT by 16.62 per cent in April, when the volume handled was lower, at 9.47 lakh tonnes (1.13 million tonnes). Crude oil is a major import cargo at NMPT.

Port sources attributed the decline to the two-week shutdown of all MRPL units from April 12, following scarcity of water to run its operations.

However, MRPL re-started operations from April 26, after the Dakshina Kannada district administration decided to release water to the refinery.

The export of products from MRPL during the period witnessed a growth of 13.06 per cent. The port handled 4.29 lakh tonnes (3.80 lakh tonnes) of MRPL's products during April. Sources said the impact of the refinery shutdown on MRPL's export cargo would be seen in May.

COAL, FERTILISER

Other cargoes, such as fertilisers and coal, recorded growth at NMPT. The port handled 27,658 tonnes (12,374 tonnes) of fertilisers in April. The Udupi Power Corporation Ltd's coal handling at the port recorded a growth of around 89.85 per cent. The handling of coal cargo for other users of NMPT in the hinterland went up by 36.78 per cent during the period. The handling of LPG recorded almost a flat growth. NMPT handled 1.72 lakh tonnes (1.68 lakh tonnes) of LPG, recording a growth of 2.03 per cent in April.