Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority's Special Economic Zone has recorded a 26.86% year-on-year increase in EXIM container volume for calendar year 2025, handling 20,693 TEUs compared with 16,312 TEUs in 2024 . The performance, disclosed in a press release dated 27 January 2026, reflects growing trade activity and increasing confidence among export-import stakeholders in the SEZ's infrastructure and facilitation capabilities.
The SEZ's physical footprint provides the context for its operations. It spans a total area of 277.38 hectares, of which 129.73 hectares have already been leased and 34.16 hectares remain available for future leasing . The zone currently hosts 11 operational units along with one Free Trade Warehousing Zone, indicating steady industrial activity and scope for further development. JNPA SEZ is described as India's first multi-product, port-based SEZ, distinguishing it from sector-specific zones that concentrate on a single industry vertical.
Chairperson Gaurav Dayal framed the growth in terms of the SEZ's broader role within the port ecosystem. "The strong growth in overall EXIM volumes at JNPA SEZ during CY 2025 reflects the increasing trust of trade and industry in the SEZ's infrastructure and facilitation capabilities," he said. "JNPA SEZ transcends traditional terminal-centric functions, reinforcing its stature as a seamlessly integrated port ecosystem" . The statement positions the SEZ not merely as a real estate offering but as a component of the port's value proposition, designed to catalyse value creation for enterprises and enhance supply chain fluidity.
The SEZ's performance is significant because it indicates demand for port-adjacent industrial and warehousing space that goes beyond pure cargo handling. Companies locating in the SEZ can combine manufacturing, processing, or warehousing with direct access to JNPA's container terminals, reducing the distance between production and shipment. For export-oriented industries, this proximity can reduce inland transport costs and improve turnaround times, particularly for time-sensitive cargo.
The growth in EXIM volumes also aligns with JNPA's broader container throughput performance. The port has been setting monthly records, and the SEZ's contribution, while small relative to the port's total volumes, represents a higher-value segment where cargo is processed or stored before shipment rather than simply transshipped. The SEZ's 20,693 TEUs in CY2025 is a fraction of JNPA's overall container traffic, but its growth rate of nearly 27% suggests that the value-added segment is expanding faster than the port's core throughput.
For India's logistics and industrial policy, the JNPA SEZ's performance is a data point on the viability of port-based special economic zones. The model depends on the SEZ offering a combination of location advantages, regulatory facilitation, and infrastructure quality that justifies the cost of operating within a designated zone rather than at a standalone site. The 26.86% growth suggests that, at least for the companies that have chosen to locate there, the value proposition is working.
Looking ahead, the key variable for the SEZ will be whether the available 34.16 hectares of leasable land can attract the right mix of tenants to sustain growth. The SEZ's ability to convert land into operational units and those units into EXIM volume will determine whether the current growth rate is sustainable or represents a one-off expansion. For now, the CY2025 figures provide a concrete benchmark: 20,693 TEUs, 26.86% growth, and a lease profile that leaves room for further development.