The New Mangalore Port Trust recorded 4.4 per cent growth in cargo handling during 2011-12. The port handled 32.94 million tonnes of cargo against 31.55 million tonnes in 2010-11.

Addressing presspersons here on Tuesday, Mr P. Tamilvanan, Chairman of NMPT, attributed the growth to increase in handling of LPG, coal, POL (petroleum, oil and lubricants) crude and edible oil, among others. He said the port handled 2.07 million tonnes (1.91 million tonnes) of LPG cargo during the period and emerged as largest LPG-handling port in the country.POL crude handling increased to 13.08 million tonnes (12.39 million tonnes).

Coal handling registered a growth of 40.82 per cent. The port handled 4.02 million tonnes (2.85 million tonnes) during 2011-12. He attributed this growth to the handling of coal cargoes by Udupi Power Corporation Ltd and other users in the port's hinterland.

Container handling showed a growth of around 12.08 per cent. Mr Tamilvanan said the port handled 45,009 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of containers (40,158 TEUs).

There was a decline in the handling of iron ore fines by 22 per cent. Mr Tamilvanan said the port, which handled 1.56 million tonnes of iron ore fines in 2010-11, handled 1.21 million tonnes in 2011-12.

The export of iron ore pellets from KIOCL Ltd has also come down from 2.17 million tonnes in 2010-11 to 1.77 million tonnes, he said. Stating that the port has a capacity to handle 50.97 million tonnes of cargo, he said the construction of a POL berth at the port would add another 7.80 million tonnes to this.

Built at a cost of Rs 79 crore, the berth is likely to be completed by December, he added.

>vinayakaj@thehindu.co.in

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