Sugar exports have sustained the major port of Goa during the current financial year after the iron ore business came to a standstill nearly ten years ago following the Supreme Court order based on environmental issues.
While the port has been struggling for existence the sugar exports came handy for the port this year when it handled around twenty million tons according to Industry sources. The sugar surplus Maharashtra, used to export through Jaigarh port, but for reasons best known to the shippers a substantial quantum of exports were re routed through the Goa port during the last financial year 2021-22
It used to be a single commodity port  During the hey days of the port, it used to handle around sixty million tons of low grade iron ore mined from the region. It used to be a single
commodity port but after the ban it had to scout for more diversified cargo. The port gradually shifted to handling of bauxite, granite steel coils besides import of coal and container cargo.
Goa’s ports throughput came down to around 21 million tons per annum during the last three years. The Port had the lowest cargo volume among the 12 government owned major ports.
Cargo volume figures for the last financial year are yet to be released by the port authorities.
The port has taken up several modernization projects including a new cruise terminal ware housing for containers and wagon handling facilities in the port area under the Sagar Mala program
