Within just nine months of launching commercial operations, Vizhinjam International Seaport has handled over 1 million TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) of cargo—more than triple its first-year target of 300,000 containers as per the concession agreement. The current figure stands at 1.012 million TEUs, setting a new benchmark for performance by a greenfield port in India.

Ports Minister V. N. Vasavan, after reviewing the port’s progress on Wednesday, described it as a “world-class milestone” and a reason for Kerala to celebrate Onam with pride. “Vizhinjam has astonished the global maritime industry. To our knowledge, very few ports in the world exceed their designed capacity in the first year,” he said.

Since the commencement of operations on 3 December 2024, the port has welcomed over 460 vessels, including 27 Ultra Large Container Vessels (ULCVs) measuring up to 399.99 metres in length. Among these was the MSC Irina—the world’s largest cargo ship—which made its maiden South Asian berth at Vizhinjam.

Minister Vasavan highlighted that Vizhinjam’s rapid growth places it in direct competition with global ports such as Colombo, Singapore, and Dubai. Projections suggest the port could handle between 1.3 and 1.4 million containers by December 2025, significantly outperforming early expectations.

Vizhinjam is also notable for being South Asia’s first automated port, featuring 24 automated yard cranes and eight semi-automated ship-to-shore cranes. The Minister praised the contribution of local operators, particularly women from the Vizhinjam region, for their role in the port’s success.

Direct maritime routes from Vizhinjam have already been established to key global hubs in Europe, the United States, Africa, and China. This, Vasavan stated, not only enhances Kerala’s maritime infrastructure but also contributes significantly to India’s overall port capacity and global trade ambitions.