Paradip, Aug. 22: Paradip port has emerged as the second largest such facility among the country's 12 major ports in the past four months.

The port always had an impressive record in handling cargo. However, the international consultancy firm, Port of Antwerp International (PAI), Belgium, had made several adverse remarks about the port.

The ministry of shipping had recently appointed the firm for a study of Paradip and Kandla ports to increase their efficiency. The study had found that Paradip port was not trade-friendly and plagued by mismanagement.

But, the port's handling of 24.33 million metric tonnes cargo between April and July of this year puts such observations to rest. Kandla port along the western coast topped the cargo-handling chart with 30.86 million metric tonnes during the said period.

Refusing to comment on PAI's observations, a Paradip port official said the cargo handling figures of India's major ports showed that Paradip continued to be the leading port on the east coast with Visakhapatnam following it at the second place.

This has been possible due to efficient management and a conducive trade environment, said deputy chairman of Paradip port N. Vaiyapuri.

The growth of traffic in Paradip is primarily attributable to commodities such as varieties of coking and non-coking coal (for steel and power industries), limestone and other dry bulk cargo.

The total coal handling at Paradip in the first four months of the current year stands at 13.20 million metric tonnes against 8.86 million metric tonnes during April to July of the previous year - an increase of 15.59 per cent. During this period, Paradip had handled 529 ships against 471 ships between April and July of the current year.

Incidentally, Paradip stands out as the largest coal-handling port in terms of volume with 13.20 million metric tonnes followed by Ennore port with 8.69 million metric tonnes in the first four months of the 2015-16 financial year among the major ports of India.

Paradip port, by virtue of its location and strong hinterland connectivity, continues to be one of the most preferred ports for exporters and traders for handling dry bulk cargo, said a port official.