The Mumbai Port Authority is launching new infrastructure projects to increase handling capacity for petroleum, automobiles, and cement. This follows a record cargo throughput of 75.15 million metric tonnes in the 2025-26 fiscal year. These upgrades aim to support rising refinery output from companies like BPCL and HPCL and meet growing demand for regional automobile and construction logistics.
Detailed Coverage
The Mumbai Port Authority (MbPA) is moving ahead with infrastructure upgrades designed to handle higher cargo volumes and support regional industrial growth. The plan focuses on developing new crude oil jetties and specialized berths for chemicals and petroleum products. These facilities are intended to accommodate the increasing output from refineries in Maharashtra, including those operated by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL).
Strategic Infrastructure Growth
Petroleum, oil, and lubricants (POL) cargo currently accounts for nearly 60 percent of the port’s total traffic. Data shows that vessel-borne crude oil volumes climbed to 26.24 million metric tonnes (MMT) in 2025-26, compared to 17.22 MMT in 2011-12. Port authorities noted that even a moderate 10 percent increase in POL traffic could add approximately 4.5 MMT to annual throughput. Additionally, the port is evaluating Jawahar Dweep as a potential hub for liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering to serve container vessels, utilizing its proximity to the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust.
Expanding Automobile and Cement Capabilities
Beyond energy products, the port is scaling up its facilities for the automotive sector. In the 2025-26 fiscal year, Mumbai Port handled approximately 81,000 export-import vehicles using Roll-on/Roll-off (Ro-Ro) vessels. The port is now planning an in-dock storage facility capable of holding 100,000 vehicles to further support manufacturing hubs in Pune, Chakan, and Sanand. This infrastructure is also expected to benefit from upcoming automotive plants in Aurangabad.
In the construction sector, the port is planning the installation of cement silos with a storage capacity of 2.0 MMT. This project is aimed at streamlining the distribution of domestic cement within Mumbai by utilizing rail wagon connectivity. These initiatives are supported by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways’ Coastal Cargo Promotion Scheme, which encourages moving freight by sea to reduce reliance on road transport.
Operational Throughput and Future Outlook
These expansion efforts follow a period of steady operational growth. Mumbai Port achieved a record cargo throughput of 75.15 MMT in 2025-26, up from 53.32 MMT in 2020-21. This reflects a compound annual growth rate of about 7 percent over the past five years. While the expansion positions the port to handle higher volumes, the ultimate success of these investments will depend on the sustained demand for refinery products and the efficiency of the integrated rail-road logistics network connecting the port to industrial centers. Investors typically monitor project commissioning timelines and capital spending efficiency to determine the long-term impact on operational costs and regional trade competitiveness.