Mumbai Port Authority (MbPA) is examining a slew of expansion proposals, including additional crude-oil jetties, petroleum-product & Chemical berths and facilities.

“Based on an internal study on potential areas for expansion, we are examining the feasibility of augmenting our petroleum, oil and lubricants infrastructure to handle incremental refinery output from BPCL, HPCL and upcoming refinery expansions in Maharashtra,” MbPA Chairperson Angamuthu said. The Authority would adopt a collaborative approach with various stakeholders in the proposed expansion plans.

POL cargo remains the backbone of Mumbai Port, accounting for nearly three-fifths of its overall traffic. Vessel-borne crude-oil volumes increased 52 per cent to 26.24 million metric tonnes (MMT) in 2025-26 from 17.22 MMT in 2011-12. A 10 per cent increase in vessel-borne POL cargo could add about 4.5 MMT to the port’s annual throughput.

“Mumbai has tremendous potential to promote LNG bunkering due to its proximity to the maritime route connecting mid-east to far-east. Since the propensity for LNG conversion is more visible in container ships and with JNPA in its backyard, Jawahar Dweep is most suited to act as the future LNG bunker hub’’ Angamuthu said.

Port eyes growth in automobile handling capacity
Automobile Hub: Mumbai Port has a state-of-the-art facility for handling Roll-on/Roll-off Vessels, and during FY: 2025-26, the Port handled about 0.81 lakhs EXIM automobiles. Mumbai Port’s proximity to the Auto Major OEMs within the State, as well as the road and rail connectivity to the automobile-manufacturing clusters of Pune, Chakan and Sanand, offers a locational advantage.

The cargo basket itself is changing in step with the economy it serves. In a recent roll-on, roll-off call, we discharged 861 heavy-duty electric trucks from the MV GRANDE SHANGHAI in a single operation, an early and concrete sign that the vehicles, machinery, and equipment of the energy transition will increasingly move through our berths. It is worth noticing what this represents: a green-mobility consignment of this kind was, a few years ago, not part of an Indian port’s cargo profile at all. The composition of what we handle is not merely the tonnage, it is being reshaped by where the economy is going.

The Port is actively considering creating a storage facility within its Docks to accommodate about one lakh automobiles, which shall further increase the Port’s capacity to handle EXIM automobiles. With Auto Majors setting up plants at Aurangabad, Mumbai Port shall be the automatic choice for shipment of their EXIM automobiles.

Cement logistics, coastal cargo emerge as new focus areas
Cement Hub: Mumbai Port is also envisaging the creation of facilities for Cement Silos to store Domestic Cement received in Railway Wagons. This shall create the capacity to handle 2.0 MMT of Cement for distribution throughout Mumbai for construction purposes, etc.

“The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is in the process of finalising the Coastal Cargo Promotion Scheme, there is ample scope for Mumbai Port to handle Domestic Automobiles, too. Compared to road haulage, these waterborne modes generate only a fraction of the emissions per tonne-kilometre, making them a cornerstone of sustainable and low-carbon freight transportation,’’ the MbPA Chairperson said.

Mumbai Port reports record cargo throughput
“Mumbai Port has handled an all-time high of 75.15 MMT in 2025-26, compared with 53.32 MMT in 2020-21. This represents a compound annual growth rate of about 7 per cent over 5 years.

Source: The Hindi Business Line

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