<p data-path-to-node="5">Driven by robust coastal manufacturing demand and resilient merchandise export-import (EXIM) movement, cargo volumes handled across Indian ports climbed <b data-path-to-node="5" data-index-in-node="165">7% year-on-year in August</b>. The throughput increase was recorded despite intense geopolitical headwinds that pushed global container freight rates up by as much as <b data-path-to-node="5" data-index-in-node="328">132%</b> across key westbound corridors over the same period.</p><p data-path-to-node="6">India’s major state-run ports, alongside key private non-major maritime terminals, handled a combined expansion in containerized traffic, petroleum products, iron ore, and finished capital cargo. The volume expansion highlights India's expanding role in global manufacturing supply chains, even as international shippers absorb elevated ocean logistics expenditures.</p><p data-path-to-node="7">The massive freight rate hike driven by the ongoing bypass of the Red Sea, extended voyages around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, and localized port congestion across transhipment hubs in Asia and the Mediterranean has amplified slot demand, leading to steep rate revisions and emergency surcharges on outbound cargo from India to North America and Europe.</p><h3 data-path-to-node="9">Key Operational Highlights &amp; Macro Trade Drivers</h3><ul data-path-to-node="10"><li><p data-path-to-node="10,0,0"><b data-path-to-node="10,0,0" data-index-in-node="0">Resilient Port Cargo Growth:</b> Total throughput across major maritime gateways registered a sustained 7% YoY increase, powered by high-capacity bulk mineral offloading, rising coal shipments for the domestic power sector, and stable containerized trade across western and southern coasts.</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="10,1,0"><b data-path-to-node="10,1,0" data-index-in-node="0">132% Outbound Freight Rate Escalation:</b> Average spot ocean freight rates across key westbound container routes surged by 132% compared to the prior-year baseline. The increase reflects global equipment shortages, extended vessel sailing durations, and higher marine fuel burn linked to Cape routing.</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="10,2,0"><b data-path-to-node="10,2,0" data-index-in-node="0">Severe Pressure on Small and Medium Exporters:</b> While large conglomerate exporters absorbed elevated logistics margins, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in margin-sensitive sectors such as apparel, handicrafts, leather, and agricultural perishables faced compressed profitability and delays in slot allocations.</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="10,3,0"><b data-path-to-node="10,3,0" data-index-in-node="0">Container Turnaround and Inland Rail Synergies:</b> Port authorities and multimodal rail logistics operators expedited container evacuation from quayside yards to Inland Container Depots (ICDs), maintaining low dockside dwell times despite irregular vessel arrival windows and bunching.</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="10,4,0"><b data-path-to-node="10,4,0" data-index-in-node="0">Expansion in Coastal and Intra-Regional Transhipment:</b> Rising ocean line fees on deep-sea lanes led domestic shippers to expand coastal vessel utilization along India’s eastern and western seaboards, partially cushioning long-haul highway and deep-draft transit expenses.</p></li></ul>