JNPA Rises to 21st Spot Among World’s Top 30 Container Ports in H1 2026 Review Report, Mundra at 26th Spot
Mumbai:
Port Wings News Network:
Image Credit: Alphaliner
Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), India’s largest container port with five terminals has surged to 21st position globally, from 28th in 2025, in Alphaliner’s H1 2026 review report of the world’s Top 30 container ports. It has marked the growth of 13.6% as against H1 2025.
Besides JNPA, Mundra Port is the only second Indian port in the list. Mundra registered its spot at 26, slipping two positions from last year’s 24th spot. Meanwhile, Chinese ports dominated the list.
The seven-position rise reflects JNPA’s sustained focus on operational efficiency, faster cargo evacuation, improved vessel handling, and enhanced multimodal connectivity over the past year. These capabilities were particularly tested during the global trade disruptions in H1 2026 arising from the US–Iran conflict, when JNPA introduced proactive measures to facilitate cargo movement, manage additional operational requirements and support the continuity of EXIM trade. The Port’s ability to maintain efficient operations and respond swiftly to disruptions has further strengthened its position as a reliable gateway for India’s international trade.
Commenting on the surge in the ranking, Gaurav Dayal, IAS, Chairperson, JNPA, said, “The collaborative performance of our terminal operators, stakeholders, and the entire port community is reflected in JNPA’s rise to the 21st position in the global ranking. Their combined efforts have strengthened JNPA’s capacity to provide dependable and effective cargo-handling services, especially in tackling the intricacies of worldwide trade interruptions throughout the year. We will build on this momentum to further Elevate JNPA’s ranking as one of the top container ports in the world.”
Alphaliner, is a leading global provider of liner shipping data and intelligence, tracks container port performance based on throughput. The latest ranking underscores JNPA’s growing stature among the world’s leading container ports and its increasing contribution to India’s maritime trade and logistics growth.
The Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) is one of India’s premier container-handling ports and a key gateway for the country’s EXIM trade. JNPA currently operates five container terminals — NSFT, NSICT, NSIGT, BMCT and APMT. The port also has a shallow water berth for general cargo, operated by NSDT. Its liquid cargo facilities include a terminal managed by the BPCL-IOCL consortium and an additional liquid cargo terminal developed by
JNPA and operated by M/s JSW-JNPT Liquid Terminal Pvt. Ltd. The port’s coastal berth further strengthens maritime connectivity with other Indian ports and supports the growth of coastal cargo and container movement.
WIDESPREAD IMPACT OF GEOPOLITICAL TRENDS
According to Alphaliner’s review of the top-30 ports at the half-year mark shows the widespread impact of geopolitical trends on the global container market, as carriers adjusted their networks in reaction to the Middle East conflict and shippers responded to the US tariff policy.
The effect of renewed disruption in the Hormuz Strait, which resulted in a near shutdown of the waterway from March onwards and only a partial and unstable reopening in June, saw volumes plummet over 90% at Dubai’s Jebel Ali to just 374,000 TEU in the second quarter of the year.
Combined with a Q1 decline of 23%, Dubai’s flagship port handled a total 3.14 M TEU in the first six months of the year, less than half the 7.77 M TEU recorded a year earlier. As a result, the port fell out of the top-30, dropping from 10th place to 32nd.
Abu Dhabi’s Khalifa Seaport also saw a major contraction. Operator AD Ports did not release official figures, but based on wider group results, it is thought volumes fell at least 50%, pushing Khalifa out of the top-50 from its previous position at 32nd. It contrasts with 2025, when the port registered year-on-year growth of 21.4%, challenging Lianyungang for a top-30 place, says a post by Alphaliner.
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