Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNP), India’s largest shipping hub near Mumbai, has reached a historic milestone by crossing 10 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) in container handling capacity, Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal announced on Tuesday.
On par with global shipping giants
This achievement puts JNP in a league of the top ports globally. In 2024, it successfully handled a record 7.05 million TEUs, working over 90% of its capacity. The capacity expansion is a part of the Gati Shakti plan by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is more focused on decreasing logistics costs with an integrated multi-modal logistics framework.
The port’s capacity received a further boost with the commissioning of the second phase of the Bharat Mumbai Container Terminal (BMCT) in January 2025. This addition brings an extra 2.4 million TEUs to JNP’s capacity, enhancing its ability to handle larger volumes of cargo.
Significance of TEUs in Global Trade
A TEU is a unit of measurement for shipping, similar to a 20-foot-long container. New-generation cargo vessels can carry more than 18,000 TEUs on a single journey, which underscores the increased capability of JNP in supporting global trade.
On Monday, Sonowal launched projects worth nearly ₹2,000 crores aimed at further expanding JNP’s infrastructure and efficiency. These initiatives are part of the national logistics policy approved in 2022, which seeks to streamline goods movement, lower costs, and integrate technology across supply chains.
Driving India’s Logistics Growth
With this achievement, JNP not only cements its role as a key driver in India’s trade and logistics sector but also showcases its readiness to compete with global shipping giants.