V. O. Chidambaranar Port achieves remarkable growth in edible oil handling
V. O. Chidambaranar Port, Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, handles a wide array of cargoes like coal, containers, limestone, windmill blades & accessories, fertilisers & raw materials, construction material, edible oil, including palm oil and sunflower oil. The port’s commitment to enhancing its operational capacity and facilitating smooth trade has led to impressive growth in edible oil handling over the years.
In this financial year 2024-25 up to December 2024, the port has handled 3,73,393 tonnes of edible oil (2,97,132 tonnes of palm oil and 76,261 tonnes of sunflower oil), compared to 3,09,229 tonnes during the same period in the previous year, achieving an impressive 20.75% growth.
As part of the port-led development initiative under the Coastal Employment Unit, envisioned by the Sagarmala program of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, VOC Port provides land to support various port-based industries.
One of the key beneficiaries, Kaleesuwari Agro Industries Private Limited, has established a refinery plant and storage tanks on port land. Crude edible oil, sourced from countries such as South Korea, is refined, stored and packaged here for domestic consumption.
Additionally, KTV Health Food Pvt. Ltd has set up dedicated storage tanks exclusively for crude and refined palm oil. Crude palm oil, imported from Indonesia and Malaysia, is transported through pipelines to their refinery in Tuticorin SIPCOT, where it is refined and packaged for domestic use.
Commending the achievement, Mr Susanta Kumar Purohit, IRSEE, Chairperson, said that this achievement underscores the trust and confidence of the stakeholders, the dedication of its workforce and the strategic vision driving the port’s development. By providing state-of-the-art infrastructure and seamless connectivity, the port has enabled its partners to thrive and contribute to this remarkable growth, he highlighted, as per a release.
Source: Exim News Service: Tuticorin, Jan. 14