MPT overscores other ports

Sandesh Prabhudesai
18 April 2001  

The Mormugao Port Trust has recorded a growth of eight per cent in total traffic compared to only three per cent growth recorded at all the 11 ports in the country.

Dr Jose Paul, the chairman, cites privately supplied quality power supply, modernisation of the plants and devoted staff as the prime reasons for the growth record achieved by the MPT in Goa.

At an annual press conference held in the port town of Vasco, Dr Paul however admitted that sudden increase in the traffic at minor ports all over the country has adversely affected the growth rate in the major ports in the country.

Compared to the traffic between six to ten per cent five years ago, the traffic at minor ports has now increased to almost 23 per cent, he informed, while also admitting that decongestion at the major ports could be one reason for the diversion of traffic.

Comparatively, such a growth was not recorded at the sole minor port in Panaji here. It was only 10 per cent of the total traffic Goa attracted last year. MPT, on the other hand, handled total traffic of 19.63 MT in 2000-01 compared to 18.23 MT last year.

The MPT has also set a new record by handling 28 per cent more of the general cargo than the previous year. In spite of this, the Mormugao port shows reduction in its profits, from Rs 23.3 crore to Rs 20.3 crore, mainly due to the additional burden of Rs 25 crore resulted out of pay revision with retrospective effect since 1998.

Dr Paul however appeared optimistic of further increase in the iron ore traffic with Japan reportedly agreeing for a rise of 4.3 per cent in FOB price of the iron ore and China's steel production being increased from 15 to 25 per cent.

While the MPT's 80 per cent traffic has still been the export of iron ore, 56 per cent of it goes to Japan while 25 per cent to China. Both Japan and China have recorded 12 and 62 per cent rise respectively over last year's exports.

The exports to South Korea have however dropped by 26 per cent, besides 25 per cent reduction to Netherlands. There has been also no response from France, Singapore, Germany and Kenya this year, though the exports previous year were only 9.34 lakh tonnes.

MPT is one among the three ports chosen in the priority list of corporatisation of the major ports. Dr Paul feels it is a reward for the team work which has succeeded in maintaining good working environment and cordial industrial relation while recording good profitability and keeping debt liability at a low level.

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