A study on financial performance of Indian major ports in the Western coast

Abstract

The financial performance of seaports plays a critical role in national trade facilitation, economic growth, and global competitiveness, especially in a country like India where maritime transport handles over 90% of trade by volume and 70% by value. This study investigates the financial performance of major ports located on the western coast of India— namely Deendayal Port, Mumbai Port, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), Mormugao Port, New Mangalore Port, and Cochin Port. These ports act as vital gateways to international trade, serving not just coastal states but also landlocked regions by connecting inland logistics with global shipping lanes. With the Indian port sector undergoing transformative changes through infrastructure modernization, public-private partnerships (PPP), and enhanced policy support under the Sagarmala project, a systematic and empirical evaluation of port financial performance becomes both timely and imperative. The core objective of this study is to examine the financial dynamics of these ports by identifying the key drivers that influence their financial outcomes, and to draw conclusions that can aid strategic, operational, and investment- related decision-making in port management and maritime economics.