Mundra Port Handles Record 20.27 Million Tonnes in October
Mundra Port’s October Performance Strengthens Gujarat’s Place in India’s Cargo Network
Gujarat’s Mundra Port records its highest-ever monthly cargo movement, while container terminals and railway operations also report new records.
Mundra, Gujarat, November 6, 2026: Mundra Port in Gujarat handled 20.27 million metric tonnes (MMT) of cargo in October 2026, becoming the first port in India to cross the 20-million-tonne mark in a single month, according to figures released by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (APSEZ).
The October performance also brought new monthly records in container handling, fertiliser movement and railway operations. The port handled 8.59 lakh twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) during the month, while its CT3 container terminal processed 3.18 lakh TEUs. Both figures represent the highest monthly volumes reported for their respective operations at Mundra.
The latest numbers come at a time when India’s maritime trade is expanding and ports are handling larger volumes of imported raw materials, manufactured goods, fuel, agricultural products and export cargo. Mundra’s October figures offer an indication of the growing volume of goods moving through Gujarat’s coastline.
The container business accounted for a major share of the month’s activity. Mundra handled 8.59 lakh TEUs, its highest monthly container throughput to date. A TEU represents the space occupied by one standard 20-foot shipping container and is the common unit used to measure container traffic.
CT3, operated by Adani International Container Terminal Private Limited (AICTPL), handled 3.18 lakh TEUs in October. This exceeded its previous monthly record of 3.10 lakh TEUs, set in September 2026. According to the reported figures, CT3 has also become the first single container terminal in India to handle this volume in one month.
The T2 Terminal recorded its highest monthly throughput at 1.55 lakh TEUs during October. The performance of these terminals points to the growing importance of container operations in the port’s overall business.
Fertiliser handling also reached a new monthly high. Mundra’s Dry Cargo Terminal processed 0.79 MMT of fertiliser in October 2026. Fertilisers are an important part of India’s agricultural supply chain, as farmers depend on their timely movement to production and distribution centres. Ports play a key part in bringing imported fertilisers and raw materials into the country before they move inland.
Railway activity added another set of records to the October figures. Mundra Port handled 1,870 trains during the month. These included 282 goods trains and 1,588 container trains.
Of the container trains, 793 carried export cargo and 795 carried import cargo. The railway network moved a combined 3.87 MMT of cargo during October.
Double-stack container services also recorded their highest monthly activity. The railway team handled 1,038 double-stack rakes and moved a record 1.99 lakh TEUs by rail.
Double-stack trains carry containers in two layers, allowing more cargo to travel in a single train movement. This method can reduce the number of train movements needed to transport a given volume of containers. It also helps ports move goods towards inland markets and industrial centres.
The port’s SPRH operations recorded another monthly high, handling 1.57 lakh TEUs in October. This surpassed the previous record of 1.54 lakh TEUs, achieved in December 2025. The team also recorded its highest-ever exchange of 246 TEUs per rake. This measure records the container volume exchanged during a rake operation.
The railway figures are important because cargo handling at a port depends on how quickly goods can leave the terminal after arriving by ship. Containers waiting for transport can take up valuable space and slow down other operations. A well-connected rail network gives shipping companies and cargo owners another option for moving goods beyond the port.
Mundra’s location in the Gulf of Kutch gives it access to the northern and western Indian markets. Its rail connection to Adipur links the port with the wider Indian Railways network. The dedicated Mundra-Adipur railway line is about 64 kilometres long and electrified. Road connections through State Highway 48 and National Highway 8A provide another route for cargo movement.
The port began commercial operations in 1998, when its first two berths became operational. Rail connectivity followed in 2001, according to the company’s historical record. Container Terminal 1 started operations in 2003, followed by further expansion of container and other cargo facilities.
Over the years, Mundra has developed into a multi-cargo port. Its facilities handle containers, coal, fertilisers, crude oil, petroleum products, automobiles, liquid cargo and project cargo. Its deep-water facilities also allow large vessels to berth at the port. The port’s location and connections make it an important entry and exit point for businesses in Gujarat and other parts of northern India.
The October figures also need to be viewed against the wider growth of India’s port sector. According to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, the country’s major ports handled 915.17 million tonnes of cargo during the financial year 2025-26, recording annual growth of 7.06 per cent. They also exceeded the government’s annual target of 904 million tonnes.
Mundra’s monthly performance forms part of this wider expansion in maritime activity. However, the national figures cover the country’s 13 major ports, while Mundra is a privately operated commercial port in Gujarat. The two sets of figures therefore cover different groups of ports and should not be treated as a direct comparison.
The government has also been working to improve India’s port infrastructure through the Sagarmala programme. The initiative covers projects related to port modernisation, coastal shipping, better road and rail connections and the development of port-linked industries. The Ministry reported that major ports handled a record 915.17 million tonnes in FY 2025-26, reflecting the growing demand for maritime transport.
For exporters and importers, port performance has a direct bearing on the movement of goods. Faster cargo handling and dependable inland transport can help reduce delays in supply chains. This is particularly relevant for industries that depend on imported raw materials or need to ship finished products to overseas markets.
Mundra’s October records cover cargo handling, container terminals, fertiliser movement and rail transport. The railway figures also show how much of the port’s business depends on moving containers beyond the coastal facility.
Whether these monthly records can be maintained will depend on future cargo demand, shipping activity, terminal capacity and the ability of inland transport networks to keep pace. For Gujarat, the performance adds another chapter to Mundra’s growth as one of India’s largest commercial ports and a major gateway for international trade.
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