Nhava Sheva Port in India achieved a new high in container throughput, with 6.3 million TEUs in 2023. PSA Mumbai led the pack with 2.07 million TEUs, while APM Terminals Mumbai handled 1.52 million TEUs despite capacity constraints. Nhava Sheva is developing a new green-field port at Vadhavan with DP World’s support.
The strong performance at Nhava Sheva Port is significant given the challenges from Mundra Port. DP World is partnering with Nhava Sheva to develop the Vadhavan port, which aims to prevent potential spillover volumes to private competitors and double the terminal’s capacity by 2025.
Record-breaking Performance at Nhava Sheva Port
India’s Nhava Sheva Port (JNPA) achieved a significant milestone at the end of 2023, with its annual container throughput hitting a new peak. According to provisional data collected by Container News, the port experienced a 7% year-over-year increase in yearly containerised traffic, reaching 6.3 million TEUs. Of the six container-handling facilities at Nhava Sheva, PSA Mumbai – also known as Bharat Mumbai Container Terminals (BMCT) – emerged as the leader, handling approximately 2.07 million TEUs and achieving a remarkable 30% gain over 2022. Following closely behind was APM Terminals Mumbai, or Gateway Terminals India (GTI), which managed 1.52 million TEUs despite facing capacity constraints due to an equipment upgrade program. The Nhava Sheva International Container Terminal (NSICT) and Nhava Sheva International Gateway Terminal (NSIGT) handled 1.18 million TEUs and 1.12 million TEUs, respectively, with both terminals operated by DP World. Continuing its strong performance, Nhava Sheva witnessed a 6.8% year-over-year volume expansion from April to December, positioning the port to potentially exceed the 6.05 million TEUs reported for fiscal 2022-23.
Future Expansion and Development Plans
The remarkable performance of Nhava Sheva, particularly in the face of stiff competition from Mundra Port located 300 nautical miles away, is a testament to its resilience in the market. As trade volumes continue to grow, Nhava Sheva is embarking on a new development project – a green-field, deep-water port at Vadhavan, approximately 120 miles north of the coast. The port has garnered interest from DP World, which recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Nhava Sheva port authority to express its involvement in the project. Sanjay Sethi, Chairman of JNPA, expressed confidence in DP World’s support, stating that their partnership will be integral in making the Vadhavan port a reality. CEO of DP World Nhava Sheva, Jibu K. Itty, emphasized the potential of Vadhavan Port to unlock trade opportunities and drive prosperity in the region, with hopes of transforming it into a prominent port along the west coast of the country. The Vadhavan project has been strategically designed with the aim of preventing potential spillover volumes from Nhava Sheva to its private competitors. Additionally, the completion of PSA’s Phase II development, set to double the terminal’s current capacity and enable it to handle 4.8 million TEUs by the first quarter of 2025, underscores the commitment to supporting the growth of the Indian economy.
