Kakinada port poises for more fertiliser imports

Kakinada, May 8 (UNI) Fertiliser imports through Kakinada port are poised for further leap in the coming months, with the Centre planning to route at least 1.5 million metric tonnes of fertilisers, mostly urea through ports in view of its proximity to the consumption centres.

The anchorage port had handled 10.21 lakh MTs of fertilisers, including 5.01 lakh MTs of urea, last year ending March, according to official sources here today.

At present, the fertiliser import was being handled by the anchorage port. However, in view of the urgency, the government had proposed to utilise the old anchorage port and the facilities at the deep-water port.

Special Secretary (Ports) K V Brahmananda Reddy, during his last visit to the port in the capacity of Commissioner of state ports, had prevailed over the port workers, barge owners and the shippers on sharing the fertiliser imports between anchorage and deep water ports at 60:40 ratio.

The sources said the new formula of sharing fertiliser imports between the ports was likely to come into effect from June 1.

Meanwhile, the anchorage port, which received a setback with the blanket ban imposed on export of non-basmati rice from September last was able to sustain because of the unexpected spurt in maize exports.

During the month of April, the anchorage port had handled 2.29 lakh MTs of cargo, both of exports and imports, and earned revenue of Rs 1.23 crore.

Port Officer Captain A Diwakar told UNI that despite the loss of rice exports, the anchorage port was expected to handle 30 lakh MTs of cargo, both of exports and imports, during the current year almost the same as that of 2005-06. The target fixed for this year was 28.3 lakh tonnes for cargo and Rs 11 crore towards revenue, he said.

He hoped that maize exports would compensate the loss sustained on account of ban on rice exports. During last year ending March, the anchorage port had handled 40.19 lakh MTs of cargo, both of exports and imports, and earned revenue of Rs 20 crore, considered to be an all-time high.

UNI XC VA SBA HT1905