The Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA) handled 50 million metric tonnes (MMT) of cargo in a record 196 days in the financial year 2026–27, reaching the milestone on Tuesday (October 13, 2026).

Official figures released by the port authority showed that cumulative cargo throughput reached 50,007,081 tonnes on Tuesday. The port took 213 days to achieve the same milestone in 2025–26, on October 30, 2025, and 224 days in 2024–25, on November 10, 2024. This year’s figure represents a reduction of 17 days and 28 days, respectively.

The port recorded steady cargo growth throughout the first half of the financial year. VPA crossed 10 MMT in 41 days on May 11, 2026, reached 25 MMT on Friday July 3, 2026, and handled 45 MMT on October 7, 2026 in 180 days.

Handling large vessels and bulk liquid cargo contributed to the growth. In June, the port recorded its highest-ever crude oil discharge in a calendar month at 2.15 MMT, following liquid cargo handling of 1.85 MMT in May. On September 1, 2026, the port berthed ATREBATES, a Belgian-flagged vessel measuring 339.5 metres in length overall (LOA), the largest crude carrier it had handled at the single point mooring (SPM) berth.

VPA chairperson J.S. Bindra and deputy chairperson Roshni Aparanji Korati congratulated the traffic department and operational team on the milestone. They said they were confident of meeting the cargo-handling target of 100 MMT for 2026–27.