The IN Prefix and Three-Letter Location Code
India uses the two-letter country prefix IN, followed by a three-character location identifier. For example, INNSA identifies Nhava Sheva and INMUN identifies Mundra in the Ecer Freight port directory.
Seaports in India: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026)
India has 311 ports and terminals indexed in the Ecer Freight database, supporting major container, bulk and project-cargo flows between the Indian Ocean, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
Explore India port codes, leading gateways, inland container depots and regional shipping connections.
India Port Overview
India’s maritime network combines major coastal container gateways, multipurpose ports, bulk terminals and inland container depots. The figures below distinguish Ecer Freight’s indexed coverage from official national and port-authority operating statistics.
311
India ports & terminals indexed in our database
Ecer Freight database · Nov 2026
855.5M
Major-port cargo handled, FY2024–25; YoY +4.4%
MoPSW 2025 overview
22.3M
Major-port container throughput, FY2024–25; YoY approximately +2.3%
MoPSW 2025 overview
12
Operational major ports, FY2024–25; YoY not separately stated
MoPSW 2025 administrative count
How many seaports does India have?
India has 311 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in its India port database snapshot for Nov 2026. This indexed figure includes coastal facilities and inland container depots and is not the same as an official count of all legally notified ports.
Which ports are central to India’s container trade?
Nhava Sheva, UN/LOCODE INNSA, and Mundra, UN/LOCODE INMUN, are among India’s principal container gateways. Chennai, UN/LOCODE INMAA, is a major southern gateway serving industrial cargo from Tamil Nadu and nearby production clusters.
Which regions handle the main freight flows?
Western India is led by Nhava Sheva (INNSA) and Mundra (INMUN), while the eastern and southern corridors include Vishakhapatnam Port (INVIS), Calcutta (INCAL), Chennai (INMAA) and Cochin Port (INCOC).
India’s Leading Ports by Container and Freight Activity
The table separates indicative international container rankings from Ecer Freight’s indexed port coverage. Throughput values are rounded 2025 operating figures compiled from port and government disclosures; rankings can vary by source and measurement period.
Selected India gateways and indicative 2025 container throughput
| World rank | Port | UN-LOCODE | 2025 throughput (M TEU) | YoY change | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | Mundra | INMUN | 7.40 | +8.0% | Gujarat, West Coast |
| 31 | Nhava Sheva | INNSA | 7.05 | +5.0% | Maharashtra, West Coast |
| 68 | Chennai | INMAA | 2.25 | +6.1% | Tamil Nadu, East Coast |
| 93 | Kattupalli | INKAT | 1.80 | +12.5% | Tamil Nadu, East Coast |
| 109 | Kolkata | INCCU | 0.95 | +3.2% | West Bengal, East Coast |
| 118 | Vishakhapatnam Port | INVIS | 0.82 | +7.9% | Andhra Pradesh, East Coast |
| 124 | Cochin Port | INCOC | 0.75 | +10.3% | Kerala, South India |
| 132 | Krishnapatnam | INKRI | 0.67 | +9.8% | Andhra Pradesh, East Coast |
India Port Regions and Cargo Clusters
Port selection depends on cargo type, inland origin, vessel service, draft, equipment availability and the final delivery corridor. The following groupings reflect common commercial logistics patterns rather than legal port-administration boundaries.
Western India and Gujarat
Western gateways serve containerized manufacturing, petrochemicals, automotive cargo, agribulk and north-western hinterlands.
Selected western ports and inland connections
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mundra | INMUN | Mundra | Containers, energy products and multipurpose cargo |
| Nhava Sheva | INNSA | Maharashtra | Containerized exports and imports |
| Pipavav | INPIP | Rajula | Containers, vehicles and project cargo |
| Kandla | INIXY | Kandla | Dry bulk, liquid bulk and general cargo |
| Navlakhi | INNAV | Navlakhi | Dry bulk and industrial commodities |
Mumbai and Maharashtra
The Mumbai–Nhava Sheva cluster is a principal gateway for western and central Indian manufacturing, consumer goods and project shipments.
Selected Maharashtra gateways and inland depots
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nhava Sheva | INNSA | Maharashtra | Large-scale container gateway |
| Mumbai | INBOM | Mumbai | Coastal, multipurpose and general cargo |
| Icd Mulund | INMUL | Icd Mulund | Inland container and customs logistics |
| Icd Chinchwad | INCCW | Icd Chinchwad | Inland container handling for western industry |
| Redi | INRED | Redi | Bulk and regional coastal cargo |
Southern and Chennai Corridor
Tamil Nadu and the southern peninsula support automotive, electronics, engineering, textiles and consumer-goods supply chains.
Selected southern ports and terminals
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chennai | INMAA | Chennai | Containers, vehicles and engineering cargo |
| Kattupalli | INKAT | Chennai | Container and project-cargo operations |
| Madras | INMAD | Madras | Legacy city-level port record and coastal cargo |
| Tuticorin | INTUT | Tuticorin | Containers, bulk and southern regional cargo |
| Mangalore | INIXE | Mangalore | Bulk, energy and general cargo |
| Cochin Port | INCOC | Kochi | Containers, coastal and multipurpose cargo |
Eastern India and Bay of Bengal
Eastern gateways connect mineral, steel, agricultural and container flows with the Bay of Bengal and inland markets.
Selected eastern ports and inland facilities
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vishakhapatnam Port | INVIS | — | Iron ore, bulk, containers and general cargo |
| Visakhapatnam | INVTZ | Visakhapatnam | Bulk and regional commercial cargo |
| Calcutta | INCAL | Kolkata | Containers, breakbulk and river-linked cargo |
| Kolkata | INCCU | Kolkata | Container and general cargo |
| Paradip Garh | INPRT | Paradeep | Bulk commodities, coal and minerals |
| Haldia | INHAL | Haldia | Liquid bulk, dry bulk and industrial cargo |
| Krishnapatnam | INKRI | Krishnapatnam | Containers, coal and bulk cargo |
India Port Codes and UN/LOCODE Structure
UN/LOCODE identifiers help carriers, forwarders, customs brokers and shippers standardize locations in booking, transport-document and electronic data systems.
City-Level and Terminal-Level Records
A city-level port record may represent a broader maritime gateway, while a terminal or inland container depot record can identify a more specific operational location. The exact code should match the booking, customs and bill-of-lading instructions.
How to Verify an India Port Code
Compare the location name, operational facility and code against the UNECE reference framework, then review the Ecer Freight port directory before requesting a routing or freight quotation.
Shipping from India: Main Trade Lanes
Transit times are indicative port-to-port ranges and vary with service rotation, transshipment, seasonality, equipment availability, customs procedures and carrier schedules.
India to Europe
Container services from western and southern India connect manufactured goods, textiles, chemicals and machinery with Northern European and Mediterranean markets.
India to the Middle East
Frequent regional services support food products, consumer goods, project cargo and industrial supplies moving to Gulf markets.
India to Southeast Asia
The lane serves electronics, machinery, chemicals, textiles and intermediate goods, commonly with direct or regional transshipment options.
India to North America
Exports include apparel, pharmaceuticals, engineering goods, chemicals and consumer products, with service patterns dependent on the final coast and transshipment hub.
Data Sources and Methodology
India port coverage, traffic statistics and global ranking data use different definitions and reporting periods. Figures are presented with the relevant year and should be confirmed for a live booking or formal market analysis.
- Ecer Freight Ports Database — first-party directory snapshot for Nov 2026 containing 311 India port and terminal records.
- UNECE — UN/LOCODE structure and location-code reference framework.
- Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways — India major-port cargo and container statistics, including FY2024–25 reporting.
- Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone — published operating information for selected western and eastern terminals.
- Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority — port-level operating information for the Nhava Sheva gateway.
- National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency — maritime location and navigational reference context.
India Port FAQ
How many seaports does India have?
India has 311 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in the Nov 2026 database snapshot. The figure includes port and inland-terminal records in the database and should not be interpreted as a complete statutory national count.
What is India’s largest container gateway?
Mundra and Nhava Sheva are among India’s largest container gateways by recent operating activity. Their Ecer Freight records are INMUN and INNSA respectively; the applicable choice depends on cargo origin, vessel service and inland delivery point.
What is the UN/LOCODE for Nhava Sheva?
The Ecer Freight port record for Nhava Sheva is INNSA. Shippers should verify the exact location and terminal against the carrier booking and current UN/LOCODE references.
Which Indian port regions are most important for international freight?
Western India, especially Gujarat and the Mumbai–Nhava Sheva cluster, is central to container and industrial freight. Chennai and nearby southern terminals serve major manufacturing corridors, while Visakhapatnam, Kolkata and Paradip support eastern and bulk-cargo flows.
How current is the India port data?
The Ecer Freight indexed-port snapshot is dated Nov 2026. Official throughput figures are shown for the latest complete reporting period available, principally FY2024–25 or calendar 2025, and operational details should be confirmed before shipment.
Can Ecer Freight provide an India sea-freight quotation?
FCL and LCL quotation requests can be submitted through the relevant rate pages. A usable request should include origin, destination, cargo description, volume or weight, container type, ready date and Incoterms where applicable.
Editorial note: This India guide combines the Ecer Freight port directory with publicly available government, port-authority and maritime reference information. Indexed coverage is reviewed as the directory changes, while traffic and throughput figures are refreshed against the latest complete reporting period available, generally on a quarterly editorial cycle.
Ecer Freight · Seaports in India: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026) · Data reviewed quarterly · Port Codes · Ports by Country · Contact