CHENNAI: Rising automobile exports and container traffic pushed Chennai and Kamarajar ports to a record combined cargo throughput of 106.98 million metric tonnes (MMT) in 2025-26 as both ports have been accelerating their infrastructure expansion to handle larger vessels and improve cargo evacuation.
At the annual performance review meeting on Friday, officials said Chennai Port handled 57.9 MMT during the financial year, while Kamarajar Port handled 49.08 MMT. Combined operating income of the two ports crossed Rs 2,400 crore.
Automobile exports emerged as one of the strongest growth segments across the Chennai-Ennore port cluster. Chennai Port exported more than 2.04 lakh vehicles during FY26, registering an 11.5 per cent increase over the previous year, while Kamarajar Port handled another 1.91 lakh automobile exports. Officials said increasing demand from shipping lines for larger car carriers was now reshaping port infrastructure planning. “Earlier one vessel used to carry around 5,000 cars. Now there is demand for vessels carrying 8,000 cars,” Chennai Port Authority chairperson S Viswanathan said. Container traffic also remained a major contributor to growth. Chennai Port recorded its highest-ever container handling at 1.9 million TEUs, a 6.7 per cent rise over the previous year, with containers now accounting for nearly 65 per cent of total cargo handled at the port.
At Kamarajar Port, dry bulk cargo continued to dominate throughput, contributing nearly 56 per cent of overall cargo movement. Officials said the port had also become ‘Cape compliant’ after completing capital dredging works, enabling it to handle large vessels with 18-metre draft capacity. Port authorities also highlighted improvements in vessel turnaround and cargo dwell time, attributing it to procedural changes such as remote vessel clearances and the rollout of the ‘One Nation One Port Process’.
“Today the ship comes in and in less than two days it is able to go out,” said JP Irene Cynthia, chairperson and managing director of Kamarajar Port Limited.
Officials said the Chennai Port–Maduravoyal elevated corridor was progressing steadily and expected to be completed by November 2027.To support growing automobile and container traffic, Chennai Port plans to develop a multi-level car parking facility under the PPP model, while both ports are expanding storage yards, railway sidings and digital cargo management systems.
The ports also highlighted facilitation measures introduced during the Red Sea and West Asia trade disruptions, including dedicated storage areas and prioritised vessel handling, which officials said helped maintain uninterrupted cargo movement and avoid container shortages.
Both ports also outlined expansion projects including container terminal upgrades, coastal cargo berths and integrated digital control centres as they seek to position the Chennai-Ennore cluster as a larger manufacturing and logistics gateway for south India. \