VOC Port Crosses 25 Million Tonnes in FY27 as Tuticorin Emerges as East Coast Cargo Gateway

V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority (VOCPA) crossed 25 million tonnes of cargo throughput for FY 2026–27 on 24 October 2026, marking a significant operational milestone for the Thoothukudi port. The achievement reflects sustained cargo handling performance and the port's expanding role in facilitating EXIM trade and domestic cargo movement on India's southeastern coast. The port is simultaneously pursuing major infrastructure upgrades, including the conversion of Berth 7 into a container terminal, development of Multi Cargo Berth 10, and mechanisation of North Cargo Berth-III, positioning itself as a multi-modal logistics hub.

<p class="ds-markdown-paragraph" style="margin: 16px 0px; color: rgb(15, 17, 21); font-family: quote-cjk-patch, Inter, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority has crossed the 25 million tonnes mark in cargo throughput during the current financial year, achieving the milestone on 24 October 2026, according to the port authority's announcement . The figure represents cumulative cargo handled since the beginning of FY 2026–27 and reflects the Thoothukudi port's sustained operational performance as a key maritime gateway on India's southeastern coast.<a href="https://indiashippingnews.com/shipping/voc-port-crosses-25-million-tonnes-in-cargo-throughput-in-fy-2026-27/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" aria-label="1" style="color: rgb(57, 100, 254); transition: box-shadow 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1); border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border-width: 2px 3px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: -3px; text-decoration: none; position: relative;"></a><a href="https://indiaseatradenews.com/voc-port-crosses-25-million-tonnes-in-cargo-throughput-in-fy-2026-27/#respond" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" aria-label="3" style="color: rgb(57, 100, 254); transition: box-shadow 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1); border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border-width: 2px 3px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: -3px; text-decoration: none; position: relative;"></a><p class="ds-markdown-paragraph" style="margin: 16px 0px; color: rgb(15, 17, 21); font-family: quote-cjk-patch, Inter, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">The milestone is significant not merely as a tonnage figure but as an indicator of the port's growing role in India's trade logistics. VOC Port handles a diverse cargo mix spanning coal, thermal coal, limestone, sulphuric acid, palm oil, sugar, general cargo, windmill blades, and containerised cargo, serving both EXIM trade and domestic cargo movements across southern India . The port's ability to handle such a broad range of commodities positions it as a versatile gateway that supports multiple industrial sectors, from energy and fertiliser to renewable energy and consumer goods.<a href="https://www.itln.in/amp/shipping/voc-port-sets-record-for-fertiliser-dispatch-by-rail-1360887" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" aria-label="5" style="color: rgb(57, 100, 254); transition: box-shadow 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1); border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border-width: 2px 3px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: -3px; text-decoration: none; position: relative;"></a><p class="ds-markdown-paragraph" style="margin: 16px 0px; color: rgb(15, 17, 21); font-family: quote-cjk-patch, Inter, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">The achievement comes amid a period of strong operational performance across multiple metrics. In September 2026, the Tuticorin International Container Terminal (TICT) handled a record 33,771 TEUs across 32 ships, contributing to the port's overall September throughput of approximately 38.45 lakh metric tonnes, a 13% increase from the corresponding month in 2025 . The terminal also berthed the CMA CGM Thorium, a 335.23-metre vessel that became the longest container ship to ever call at the port, breaking the previous record held by the 304-metre MSC Michaela .<a href="https://www.theweek.in/news/maritime/2026/10/25/voc-port-s-tuticorin-terminal-marks-3-milestones-in-2-months-green-terminal-tag-record-cargo-handling-and-a-special-ship.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" aria-label="2" style="color: rgb(57, 100, 254); transition: box-shadow 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1); border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border-width: 2px 3px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: -3px; text-decoration: none; position: relative;"></a><p class="ds-markdown-paragraph" style="margin: 16px 0px; color: rgb(15, 17, 21); font-family: quote-cjk-patch, Inter, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">The port's growth trajectory extends beyond containerised cargo. In August 2026, VOC Port handled 35.35 lakh tonnes, up 9.36% year-on-year, while cumulative throughput for April–August stood at 18.27 million tonnes, a 2.10% increase over the same period in the previous fiscal . The port also recorded its highest-ever single-day cargo handling of 217,332 tonnes on 5 September 2026, surpassing the previous record of 216,631 tonnes set in February . These records demonstrate that the 25 MMT milestone is part of a broader pattern of operational strength rather than an isolated achievement.<a href="https://www.maritimegateway.com/voc-port-handles-record-2-17-lakh-tonnes-of-cargo-in-a-single-day/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" aria-label="6" style="color: rgb(57, 100, 254); transition: box-shadow 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1); border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border-width: 2px 3px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: -3px; text-decoration: none; position: relative;"></a><p class="ds-markdown-paragraph" style="margin: 16px 0px; color: rgb(15, 17, 21); font-family: quote-cjk-patch, Inter, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">The port's infrastructure development programme is designed to sustain and accelerate this growth. Berth No. 7 is being upgraded into a modern container terminal at a cost of ₹517.19 crore, with a 370-metre quay, increased draft from 11.7 to 14.20 metres, and annual handling capacity of 4.2 lakh TEUs. The terminal is scheduled for completion by March 2029 and will be capable of handling vessels up to 12,100 TEUs . The development is being carried out on a design, build, finance, operate and transfer basis and includes three rail-mounted quay gantry cranes, nine electric rubber-tyred gantry cranes, and rehabilitation of a 10-hectare backup yard .<a href="https://www.worldports.org/indian-port-opens-green-methanol-bunkering-facility-starts-54m-container-terminal/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" aria-label="11" style="color: rgb(57, 100, 254); transition: box-shadow 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1); border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border-width: 2px 3px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: -3px; text-decoration: none; position: relative;"></a><a href="https://newsable.asianetnews.com/business/voc-port-boosts-infra-for-projected-53-25-mn-tonnes-cargo-by-2030-articleshow-ti04c5p#1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" aria-label="13" style="color: rgb(57, 100, 254); transition: box-shadow 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1); border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border-width: 2px 3px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: -3px; text-decoration: none; position: relative;"></a><p class="ds-markdown-paragraph" style="margin: 16px 0px; color: rgb(15, 17, 21); font-family: quote-cjk-patch, Inter, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Multi Cargo Berth No. 10 is approximately 70% complete and will initially have a capacity of 4 million tonnes per annum, with provision to increase to 10.22 million tonnes after draft enhancement . The mechanisation of North Cargo Berth-III, expected to be completed by March 2027, is intended to significantly improve productivity, reduce vessel turnaround time, and enhance bulk cargo handling efficiency . A 40-acre Custom Bond Area is also being developed to increase bulk cargo stacking capacity and improve road connectivity to the upcoming Green Hydrogen plant areas .<a href="https://www.indianchemicalnews.com/interviews/transforming-voc-port-into-a-seamless-multi-modal-logistics-hub-susanta-kumar-purohit-chairperson-v-o-chidambaranar-port-authority-599#1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" aria-label="10" style="color: rgb(57, 100, 254); transition: box-shadow 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1); border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border-width: 2px 3px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: -3px; text-decoration: none; position: relative;"></a><a href="https://newsable.asianetnews.com/business/voc-port-boosts-infra-for-projected-53-25-mn-tonnes-cargo-by-2030-articleshow-ti04c5p#1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" aria-label="13" style="color: rgb(57, 100, 254); transition: box-shadow 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1); border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border-width: 2px 3px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: -3px; text-decoration: none; position: relative;"></a><p class="ds-markdown-paragraph" style="margin: 16px 0px; color: rgb(15, 17, 21); font-family: quote-cjk-patch, Inter, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">The port's forward projections underscore its ambitions. Cargo traffic is projected to reach 48.30 million tonnes in 2027–28, rise to 50.72 million tonnes in 2028–29, and reach 53.25 million tonnes by 2029–30 . These targets are underpinned by the infrastructure investments now under way, including the container terminal conversion, multi-cargo berth development, and supporting logistics facilities.<a href="https://newsable.asianetnews.com/business/voc-port-boosts-infra-for-projected-53-25-mn-tonnes-cargo-by-2030-articleshow-ti04c5p#1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" aria-label="13" style="color: rgb(57, 100, 254); transition: box-shadow 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1); border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border-width: 2px 3px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: -3px; text-decoration: none; position: relative;"></a><p class="ds-markdown-paragraph" style="margin: 16px 0px; color: rgb(15, 17, 21); font-family: quote-cjk-patch, Inter, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">For India's maritime trade, VOC Port's milestone reflects a broader pattern of growth at the country's major ports. Visakhapatnam Port, for instance, handled 50 million tonnes in a record 196 days in FY 2026–27, marking a significant improvement over previous years . The simultaneous strong performance of multiple ports suggests that India's cargo throughput is expanding across regions, supported by infrastructure investment and operational improvements. For VOC Port specifically, the 25 MMT milestone establishes it as a credible alternative gateway to Chennai and other east coast ports, with particular strengths in bulk cargo, fertiliser handling, and increasingly containerised trade.<p class="ds-markdown-paragraph" style="margin: 16px 0px; color: rgb(15, 17, 21); font-family: quote-cjk-patch, Inter, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Looking ahead, the port's ability to sustain its growth trajectory will depend on the timely completion of its infrastructure projects, the continued expansion of container services, and the port's capacity to attract new cargo streams. The Berth 7 container terminal, once operational, will significantly enhance VOC Port's container handling capacity and allow it to compete more effectively for transshipment and gateway cargo on the east coast. For now, the 25 MMT milestone provides a concrete marker of the port's progress and a foundation on which its ambitions for 50 million tonnes and beyond are being built.

VOC Port Crosses 25 Million Tonnes in FY27 as Tuticorin Emerges as East Coast Cargo Gateway

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