South Asian ports, as vital entry and exit points for goods, are critical to the region’s economy, handling 75% of its trade.  Home to four of the largest container ports in the world, three of which are in India, the region is still a small shareholder in global trade because it is not cost- or time-effective. Increasing the competitiveness of South Asia’s exports will require improvements in the performance of its container ports, as over three-quarters of the region’s trade is transported through them.  This blog focuses on ports in India. 

Ports are equally significant in India’s complex geopolitical priorities, most importantly at this point, the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). Prime Minister Modi’s reiteration of IMEC’s significance in India’s broader international connectivity projects across various global platforms and forums underscores its importance in India’s connectivity strategy. In an interview early this year, PM  Modi called IMEC the “new Silk Route of the 21st century”. 

The IMEC corridor relies on four key ports for its maritime leg in India: Mundra Port (Gujarat), Vadhavan Port (Gujarat), Vizhinjam Port (Kerala), and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (Navi Mumbai). The recently inaugurated pivotal Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport is beneficial for maritime trade with countries in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. 

The longstanding Indian diplomatic effort for IMEC has drawn attention to the critical role that Indian deep-sea strategic ports play in foreign and security policy. India’s  deep-sea ports play an important part in handling approximately 95% of India’s international trade. Through initiatives like the Sagarmala project, India is modernising its domestic ports to enhance connectivity, boost trade, and project influence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, formulated by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, builds on the Maritime India Vision 2030.

 India’s pronounced emphasis on strengthening regional connectivity is underpinned by a robust, policy-driven approach to securing its key strategic ports, a fundamental part of its broader maritime policy.

Alongside 200 minor ports, the key strategic ports mentioned below, spanning India’s 7,500 km coastline, enhance India’s maritime security, counter regional influences (e.g., China’s Belt and Road), foster inter-regional connectivity and trade, and support naval operations for maritime neighbors. 

A cursory glimpse of the geography of a few notable ports draws attention to their respective posturing in India’s foreign and security policy:

1. Officially renamed as Sri Vijaya Puram in September 2024,  Port Blair is an extension of the Indian Government’s plan to position Vijaya Puram as a key strategic hub in the Indian Ocean Region.  Strategic concerns are high over China’s alleged intelligence facilities on Myanmar’s Coco Islands ( 30 or 33 Km from the northernmost point of the Andaman Islands), just 55 kilometres from Indian territory. The Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC), India’s only tri-service command, has been strengthened to project power and engage with neighbouring countries. 
2. Paradip,  a vast hinterland,  at the intersection of the Mahanadi River and the Bay of Bengal provides a vital getaway to port-led industrialization and connectivity to Bay of Bengal and Southeast Asia, contributing to India’s strategic presence in the Indian Ocean Region and global maritime trade. 
3. A central hub for India- Bangladesh maritime connectivity, Kolkata Port (now Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port)  provides connectivity to countries within the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) 
4. Located on India’s eastern seaboard, Krishnapatnam Port a vital node in India’s export and import maritime trade to Southeast Asia, the port is critical for India’s energy security. 
5. Part of the multi-port network in the region, Tuticorin Port situated near the Palk Bay  is central to managing the complex diplomatic issues across  Sri Lankan territorial waters.
6. Cochin Port,  with a significant portion of its cargo consisting of crude oil, LNG, and LPG, is a critical maritime gateway to the Indian Ocean and a transhipment hub between Europe and the Far East. The Port is situated on a major naval route linking the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea, and the Laccadive Sea. 
7. New Mangalore Port is  Karnataka’s only major port and a vital gateway for the hinterland, serving the states of Karnataka and to some extent, Kerala. The port is a key node in India’s network of Sea Lines of Communications. 
8. Situated on the Arabian Sea, Mumbai Port‘s geopolitical significance stems from its strategic location on India’s west coast, serving as a crucial gateway to international shipping routes, particularly to the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. 
9. Kandla Port in Gujarat is a critical trade gateway to western and northern India and a hub for energy imports. It is central to new trade corridors, particularly the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) 
10. Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Maharashtra is a crucial gateway for international trade and a key node in global supply chains, including the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC)

With India’s increasing focus on strengthening its maritime capabilities, ports are not just trade gateways but also strategic capitals for naval projection, energy security, and balancing power equations. India’s investments in foreign ports have accelerated in recent years, driven by a mix of commercial interests and geopolitical strategy supporting key corridors like the North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), and the Eastern Maritime Corridor.

A magnified view of the region indicates South Asia’s potential to capture a larger share of global trade, provided it addresses the persistent inefficiencies in port operations. Despite moving up in the Global Ranking in the International Shipments category, the average ship turnaround time remains more than double that of the world’s most efficient ports, such as Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Singapore. In the backdrop of the policy-driven approach pursued by most countries to improve port operations across the region, a push toward private-sector participation within a well-regulated landlord port model, while promoting transparent and competitive concession bidding between and within ports, seems imperative to take a step forward.