South India’s Gateway Ports Chennai and Kamarajar Jointly Handle Record 107 MMT Cargo in FY 2025-26

Chennai:

Port Wings News Network:

(From Left to Right) J P Irene Cynthia, Chairperson and Managing Director of KPL, S Viswanathan, Chairperson, ChPA, and P Arun Kumar, Director, PIB Chennai, during the media briefing.

Chennai Port Authority (ChPA) and Kamarajar Port Limited (KPL, a wholly owned subsidiary of the ChPA) on 22 May jointly announced the operational and financial performance highlights for the Financial Year 2025-26 (1 April, 2025 to 31 March, 2026).

S Viswanathan, Chairperson, ChPA, and J P Irene Cynthia, Chairperson and Managing Director of KPL, jointly released the details of operational achievements of FY 2025-26.

Chennai Port and Kamarajar Port recorded highest-ever combined cargo throughput of 107 million metric tonnes (MMT), surpassing FY 2024-25 landmark throughput of 103.37 MMT. While Chennai Port handled 57.90 MMT, Kamarajar Port handled 49.08 MMT during the financial year.

S Viswanathan stated: “Chennai Port delivered record performance across its ‘4C’ cargo category – Container, Crude Oil, Cars and Clean Cargo. In containers, we have recorded a highest-ever throughput of 1,905,658 TEUs, crossing the 1.9 million TEU mark for the first time with 6.7% YoY growth.”

“While the situation in West Asia affected container handling figures at the DP World-run container terminal, the Singapore-based PSA-run container terminal registered double-digit growth, thus helping Chennai Port achieve positive growth,” he added.

In Crude Oil segment, the port registered record throughput of 11.44 MMT (+11.1% YoY). The port also recorded high export-led growth in automobile handling of 204,165 units (+11.5% YoY). Besides, in Clean Cargo segment, the port handled fertilizer cargo of 396,000 MT (+78.4% YoY).

KAMARAJAR PORT’S OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE

For the Financial Year 2025-26, Kamarajar Port delivered a strong operational performance, including Coal volume of 25.72 MMT (+0.5 % YoY), Container throughput of 700,639 TEUs (+2.87% YoY), Automobile handling of 191,825 units (+18.86% YoY), and Liquid throughput of 5.63 MMT (+4.5 % YoY).

Briefing the media, J P Irene Cynthia, said that Kamarajar Port has become a ‘Cape Compliant’ port with 18 meters draft, having completed Capital Dredging Phase VI project at Rs. 440 crore.

EFFICIENCY GAINS ON ALL KEY PARAMETERS

Both ports posted significant efficiency gains on all key parameters. Vessel turn-around time, cargo dwell time, and output per ship-berth day have substantially improved for both the ports.

At Chennai Port, average vessel turn-around time improved to 44.72 hours (improved by 8.23%) and container-vessel turn-around to 36.08 hours (improved by 13.40%), with output per ship-berth-day improved by 13.50% to 19,151 MT.

At Kamarajar Port, average turnaround time improved to 43.27 hours (by 7.27%), Dwell time improved by 3.1% and 5.1% respectively for export and import cargo and the output per ship-berth-day improved by 6.9% to 28,268 MT.

S Viswanathan said: “These highly evident performance improvements have resulted in reduction of logistics costs to all stakeholders across the EXIM value chain and improved capacity utilization. Simplification and uniformity of processes through One Nation One Port Processes have resulted in measurable improvements across the EXIM trade.”

FINANCIAL ACHIEVEMENTS OF FY 2025-26

Both ports posted record operating incomes, combined income from operations soared past Rs. 2,400 crore.

Chennai Port achieved a record operating income of Rs. 1,185.01 crore and its best operating ratio in over two decades at 55.14%. It may be noted that Chennai Port’s net surplus (before tax) of Rs. 434.29 crore is the highest ever recorded. Chennai Port strengthened its balance sheet by repaying Rs. 231.24 crore of SBI term loan during the year and contributing Rs. 100 crore to LIC towards the Pension and Gratuity Funds.

Similarly, Kamarajar Port grew its income from operations by 8.85% YoY to Rs. 1,239.15 crore, and delivered its highest-ever Profit After Tax of Rs. 596.03 crore. KPL’s EBITDA crossed the Rs. 1,000 crore mark for the first time, reaching Rs. 1,071.63 crore, with the lowest operating ratio of 25.48%.

Kamarajar Port’s net worth rose to Rs. 3,356.39 crore, with a healthy debt-equity ratio of 0.13 and a return on net worth of 18.58%.

The ports continued to invest for the future with combine capital expenditure of Rs. 992 crore (ChPA’s own Rs. 194.57 crore; KPL’s own Rs. 477.66 crore and KPL’s PPP partners Rs. 319.80 crore) for the FY2025-16.

CAPACITY ENHANCEMENT — CHENNAI PORT:

Improvement of the Cruise Terminal Building at Rs. 29.81 crore (800 passengers/hour) is going on. While upgradation and mechanization of Coastal Berths CB-I & CB-II through PPP (Rs. 150 crore), widening and strengthening of the JD Entrance (Rs. 417 crore), and a multi-level car park through PPP (Rs. 400 crore) are in the pipeline.

CAPACITY ENHANCEMENT — KAMARAJAR PORT:

Works for IOCL captive jetty (Rs. 921 crore), Coal Berth-3 (Rs. 261.05 crore), Capital dredging phase VI (Rs. 440 crore), and Desalination plant have been completed. Besides works for Coal Berth -4 (Rs. 292.21 crore), Container Terminal I (stage 2) (Rs.558 crore) are going on.

Also, KPL is planning for Container Terminal Phase-I Stage-II (Rs. 558 crore), upgradation of General Cargo Berth-1 through PPP (Rs. 220.8 crore), and Second Container Terminal on DBFOT basis (Rs 4,288cr.) and a new Bulk Terminal on DBFOT basis (Rs. 1,000cr.). Besides HODs from both Chennai and Kamarajar ports, P Arun Kumar, Director, PIB Chennai, attended the media briefing.

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