List of Major Seaports in India
There are 13 major ports and more than 185 minor ports in India. India has a coastline of around 7516.6 kms. There are nine coastal states in India which host the country’s ports. These states are- Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, Odisha, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Gujarat has the largest coastline.
The total major and non-major ports are present in the following States: Maharashtra (53); Gujarat (40); Kerala (20); Tamil Nadu (15); Karnataka (10) and others (63).
Mumbai Port Trust, earlier known as Bombay Port Trust, is one of the biggest natural ports in India. Kolkata port is the oldest seaport in India. The major ports handle large amount of containers and cargo traffic.
Out of the 13 Major ports, 12 are government-owned ports and 1 is privately owned.
Port Blair port became the 13th major port of India in 2010 but later it lost its status due to low traffic.
Out of the major seaports, Kandla, Mangalore, Mumbai, JNPT, Mormugao and Cochin lie on the west coast while, Chennai, Kolkata, Visakhapatnam, Paradip, Ennore, and Tuticorin lie on the east coast.
List of 13 Major seaports in India
| S.No | Ports | State/Island | Establishment Year |
| 1. | Deendayal Port (Kandla port) | Gujarat | 1965 |
| 2. | Jawaharlal Nehru Port | Maharashtra | 1989 |
| 3. | Mumbai Port | Maharashtra | 1873 |
| 4. | Visakhapatnam Port | Andhra Pradesh | 1933 |
| 5. | Chennai Port | Tamil Nadu | 1875 |
| 6. | Mormugao Port | Goa | 1985 |
| 7. | Mundra Port | Gujarat | 1998 |
| 8. | Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port (Kolkata Port- including Haldia) | West Bengal | 1870 |
| 9. | Paradip Port | Odisha | 1966 |
| 10. | V O Chidambaranar Port (Tuticorin port) | Tamil Nadu | 1974 |
| 11. | Cochin Port/ Kochi Port | Kerala | 1928 |
| 12. | Kamrajar Port (Ennore Port) | Tamil Nadu | 2001 |
| 13. | New Mangalore Port | Karnataka | 1974 |
- Kandla Port: It is now officially known as Deendayal Port. It is a seaport in Kutch district of Gujarat. It is the largest port of India by volume of cargo handled. Kandla Port was renamed as Deendayal Port in 2017 under the Indian Ports Act, 1908. It is amulti-cargo port. Major exports are Textile, Machinery, Leather products, manganese, etc.
- Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT): It is also known as Nhava Sheva Port. It is the second largest container port in India after Mundra port (private port owned by Adani Group). It is all weather tidal port. The port is also the terminal of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor. Major exports are Textile, Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, Carpets, Sporting goods, plastics, vegetable oils, etc.
- Mumbai Port: It is the second oldest port in India after Kolkata port. The port is mainly used for bulk cargo, while most container traffic is directed to JNPT across the harbour. Major exports are Manganese, Textile, Machinery, Chemical products, leather, etc.
- Visakhapatnam Port: It is located on the east coast, midway between Kolkata and Chennai. It is the only major port of Andhra Pradesh. During the FY 2022-23 the Port handled a quantity of 73.75 million tons standing 3rd among major ports. Major exports are coal, alumina, and oil
- Chennai Port: It was earlier known as Madras Port. It is the third largest port among 13 major ports in India. It is the largest port in Bay of Bengal. Major exports are Rice, Leather, Textile, etc
- Mormugao Port: It is located on the western coast in Goa. It has a naturally protected open-type harbour, that lies on the southern part of the mouth of the river Zuari. Mainly Iron ore, Pharmaceutical products, frozen fish are exported from this port.
- Mundra port: It is a private port and is also a special economic zone. It is India's first private port and largest container port located in Gujarat.
- Kolkata Port: It is officially known as Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port. It was formerly known as Kolkata Port Trust or Port of Calcutta. It is the only riverine major port in India. It is also the oldest operating port in India. The port has twin dock system- the Kolkata Dock System (KDS) and the Haldia Dock Complex (HDC). Major exports include Iron ore, tea, steel, coal, etc.
- Paradip Port: It is a natural, deep-water port located on the east coast in Odisha. It is located at the confluence of river Mahanadi and Bay of Bengal. It is the only major port in Odisha. Major exports include Iron ore, iron and aluminium.
- Tuticorin Port: It is officially known as V O Chidambarabar Port Trust. It is the third largest container terminal in India and second largest port in Tamil Nadu. It is an artificial port. It is the second all weather port. Major exports include Sugar, Granite, Limonite Ore, Building materials, liquid cargoes, etc.
- Cochin Port or Kochi Port: It is a major port on the Arabian Sea- Laccadive Sea- Indian Ocean sea route. It is the first transhipment port in India. It lies on two islands- Willington island and Vallarpadam. International Container Transhipment Terminal which is the part of this port, is the largest container transhipment facility in India. Major exports include Tea, Coffee, Spices, etc
- Ennore Port: It is now known as Kamarajar Port. It is located on the Coromandel Coast. It is the 12th major port of India and the first port in India which is a public company. Major exports include Thermal Coal, Petroleum and Chemicals, Automobiles, LPG, etc.
- New Mangalore Port: It is an all-weather port located at Panambur, Mangalore in Karnataka. It is the deepest inner harbour on the west coast. It lies to the south of Mormugao Port and north of Kochi port. Mainly iron ore is exported from this port.
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