India’s maritime sector is undergoing a fundamental transformation—from traditional cargo gateways to integrated, intelligent and sustainable trade ecosystems. Driven by port modernisation, multimodal connectivity, digitalisation and green initiatives, the sector is becoming a critical enabler of manufacturing, exports and global supply chain resilience. As global trade patterns evolve and businesses seek reliable alternatives, India’s ports are positioned to play a larger role in shaping the future of commerce. The journey towards 2035 will depend on building maritime infrastructure that is not only larger, but also smarter, greener and globally connected.
From record container growth and smarter ports to multimodal connectivity and green shipping, India’s maritime ecosystem is emerging as the backbone of the country’s manufacturing and export ambitions.
For context, In just 15 years, India has climbed from 15th to 6th in global container port throughput, with volumes rising from 3.7 million TEUs in 2010 to nearly 24 million TEUs in 2025. Over the same period, the country’s total port capacity has nearly doubled to 2,762 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA), while cargo handled has grown to 1,594 million metric tonnes, reflecting sustained investments in modernisation, connectivity and operational efficiency. Major ports alone handled around 855 million tonnes of cargo in FY2024–25, up from 819 million tonnes the previous year.
Operational efficiencies have also improved significantly, with average vessel turnaround time almost halving—from 93 hours to 48 hours— bringing Indian ports closer to global benchmarks.
The momentum extends beyond seaports. Coastal shipping has nearly doubled over the past decade, while inland waterways have emerged as a viable logistics alternative, with cargo movement increasing from 18 million metric tonnes in 2014 to a record 146 million metric tonnes in 2025, as the number of operational waterways has expanded from just 3 to 29.
“The growth in container cargo reflects not only increased imports of raw materials and finished products, but also the expansion of India’s domestic manufacturing and export sectors, including automobiles, machinery, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and consumer goods. Another distinctive feature of India is that the expansion of its domestic consumer market and its development as an export base are progressing simultaneously,” says Yoshihiro Hiraki, General Manager MOL India adding that India benefits from its proximity to major East–West trade routes, an extensive coastline, a vast domestic market and a deep pool of human talent. If port capacity and capabilities continue to improve, India can develop beyond being simply a cargo destination and play an increasingly important role as a manufacturing and logistics hub connecting South Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asia.
Reflecting India’s emergence as a preferred manufacturing and trading destination, is the recent decision by Maersk to source Made-in-India shipping containers from DCM Shriram.
Yet the next phase of India’s maritime journey will be defined by more than just numbers.
“India’s growth in container throughput, is an impressive achievement and reflects the country’s sustained investment in port infrastructure, policy reforms, and trade facilitation. It demonstrates that India is steadily emerging as one of the world’s most important maritime economies. However, when viewed in the global context, there remains significant room for growth. Global container throughput today exceeds 1 billion TEUs annually, while the Port of Shanghai in China alone handles over 50 million TEUs, more than double India’s total container throughput. This illustrates the scale at which leading global ports operate,” Dr Ennarasu Karunesan, PhD (Maritime) Regional Director – _South Asia, International Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH), Tokyo, Japan said while emphasising that, “The real story, however, is not merely about capacity expansion but about strategic transformation.”
The question, therefore, is whether India can build an integrated maritime ecosystem, not simply to move more cargo, but to create greater value, strengthen supply chain resilience and position India as a leading global manufacturing and maritime hub.
Beyond the Port: From Cargo Gateway to Logistics Ecosystem
India has moved from just 5 major ports at independence to 13 major ports and over 200 notified non-major ports today, with more than 80% of India’s merchandise trade by volume moving via ocean routes across a coastline stretching over 7,500 km. That’s the base on which the “port as operating system” transformation is happening, or at least was until the definition of a port evolved from just being a gateway of cargo, to an integrated logistics and industrial ecosystem.
Today, the success of a port is no longer determined solely by how efficiently cargo moves across the quay, but by how seamlessly it moves through the port and across the entire supply chain.
The conversation often focuses on building more ports and increasing cargo volumes. Those are important. But the bigger opportunity lies elsewhere. India already participates in global trade. The question is whether India participates in the decisions that shape global trade on subjects like ship ownership, maritime finance, trade analytics and AIdriven supply chain planning. As logistics becomes more digital and AI-enabled, the future value of logistics will increasingly come from intellectual capital rather than physical capital.- Jitendra Srivastava CEO Triton Logistics and Maritime
India already has some worldclass ports like Vizhinjam, Mundra, JNPA and the upcoming port of Vadhavan. Since things are moving so fast, the definition of a world-class port too is changing quickly. World-class ports must be deep drafted, have dual-fuel bunkering facilities, provision of shore power, efficient and cost-effective road and rail connectivity, fully digitised and simplified port and customs processes. To put it briefly—they should be FUTURISTIC.- Sunil Vaswani Executive Director, Container Shipping Lines Association (India)
If I had to single out one initiative, with the most transformative impact it would be PM Gati Shakti because it promotes integrated planning across ports, railways, roads and industrial infrastructure. That coordinated approach is critical to reducing logistics costs and improving supply chain efficiency. As projects such as the Dedicated Freight Corridors and Sagarmala continue to mature, they will further strengthen India’s ability to move goods faster, more reliably and at globally competitive costs.-Ashish Rajgarhia Chief Executive Officer, Essar Ports
By 2035, the ports leading global trade will not necessarily be those with the largest infrastructure footprint. They will be those that combine operational excellence with sustainability, digital integration and supply chain resilience. India has the opportunity to define the next generation of maritime leadership where growth, digital innovation and decarbonisation advance together.-Captain Prashant S. Widge Director, Maritime, and Executive Director – India, Smart Freight Centre
This is an abridged version of the cover story published in the August edition of the Logistics Insider Magazine. To read the complete story, click here.
