- India’s largest commercial port crosses 105 MMT cargo mark in first half of FY27
- CT3 handles record 309,955 TEUs in September, surpassing its own August benchmark
- Monthly container throughput jumps beyond previous national record of 307,329 TEUs
- Rail-road connectivity strengthens Mundra’s role as gateway for Northern India
- Record volumes underscore expanding trade, manufacturing and logistics activity
NE BUSINESS BUREAU
MUNDRA, OCT 4
Mundra Port has set a double benchmark in cargo handling, crossing the 105-million-metric-tonne mark in the first half of FY 2026-27 while its Container Terminal 3 (CT3) posted India’s highest-ever monthly container throughput of 309,955 TEUs in September 2026.
The twin milestones underline the growing scale of operations at Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ)-operated Mundra Port and reinforce its position as a key gateway for India’s international trade.
The 105 MMT achievement was recorded across the first and second quarters of the current financial year. At CT3, meanwhile, September’s throughput surpassed the terminal’s own previous national record of 307,329 TEUs achieved in August 2026.
Breaking its own record in a month
The September performance marks a notable feat: CT3 broke a national monthly container-handling record that it had itself established only a month earlier.
Handling 309,955 TEUs in a single month points to the scale and operational intensity of containerised trade moving through Mundra. The performance also highlights the role of technology-enabled terminal operations, capacity utilisation and coordinated cargo planning in managing rising volumes.
The latest achievement further strengthens Mundra’s standing as one of India’s principal container-handling and logistics hubs.
Gateway beyond Gujarat
Mundra’s importance extends well beyond the Gujarat coastline. The port has emerged as a major container gateway for cargo originating from and destined for Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Delhi-NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, besides Gujarat.
Its extensive rail and road connectivity enables cargo to move between the port and major industrial and consumption centres, supporting importers and exporters seeking efficient access to global markets.
For northern and central India’s manufacturing and trading ecosystem, the ability to connect production centres with a deep-water maritime gateway is increasingly important as India’s external trade expands.
More than a container story
While container traffic remains a defining feature of Mundra’s operations, the port handles a broad spectrum of cargo, including coal, crude oil, LNG, fertilisers, agricultural commodities, automobiles, steel and project cargo.
Its deep-draft facilities, specialised terminals and integrated logistics infrastructure have enabled it to serve diverse industries and cargo categories.
The combination of port infrastructure with road and rail connectivity has also strengthened Mundra’s role within an increasingly integrated logistics ecosystem.
Trade growth reflected at the quay
The 105 MMT milestone during the first half of FY27 comes against the backdrop of India’s continuing expansion in manufacturing, exports and participation in global supply chains.
For a major commercial port, cargo throughput is ultimately a reflection of the economic activity moving through its hinterland. The latest numbers therefore offer another indication of the scale at which Indian businesses are connecting with domestic and international markets.
The record container performance at CT3 adds another dimension to the achievement, demonstrating the growing importance of efficient container-handling capacity as supply chains become increasingly time-sensitive.
From port to integrated trade gateway
Mundra’s latest records highlight a broader transformation in the country’s logistics landscape—from ports functioning primarily as cargo-handling points to integrated gateways connecting ships, terminals, rail networks, highways, industrial clusters and markets.
With 105 MMT already handled in the first half of FY27 and CT3 setting a fresh national monthly container record, Mundra enters the second half of the financial year with two significant benchmarks already on the books.
