IN Prefix and Three-Character Location Code
A UN/LOCODE such as INNSA combines the country prefix IN with a three-character location identifier. The code identifies a registered location, not necessarily every terminal within that location.
Seaports in India: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026)
India has 311 ports and terminals indexed in the Ecer Freight database, supporting one of South Asia’s largest and most strategically important maritime trade systems.
Explore India port codes, container gateways, inland clearance depots and regional shipping connections.
India Port Overview
India’s port system combines major coastal container gateways, bulk terminals, smaller commercial ports and inland clearance depots. The indexed database count is a first-party coverage measure and should not be confused with India’s statutory port classifications or global container-port rankings.
311
India ports & terminals indexed in our database
Ecer Freight database · Oct 2026
1.59bn t
Cargo handled by major ports, FY2024–25; broadly stable year on year
MoPSW Annual Report 2025
22.1m TEU
Container throughput at major ports, FY2024–25; approximately +8% YoY
MoPSW 2025 port statistics
12
Major ports in India’s central government port system, 2025; classification unchanged YoY
MoPSW 2025
How many seaports does India have?
India has 311 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in the Oct 2026 database snapshot. This indexed figure includes coastal ports, terminals and inland clearance locations recorded under India.
Which are India’s largest container gateways?
Mundra (INMUN) and Nhava Sheva (INNSA), also known as Jawaharlal Nehru Port, are among India’s leading container gateways, followed by major facilities around Chennai including Kattupalli (INKAT).
Which regions handle the most India freight?
The western Gujarat–Maharashtra coastline and the eastern Chennai–Visakhapatnam corridor are key freight regions, with Nhava Sheva (INNSA), Mundra (INMUN), Chennai (INMAA) and Visakhapatnam (INVIS) serving distinct hinterlands.
India’s Leading Ports by Container Throughput
The table provides an indicative global position and 2025 container throughput for leading Indian gateways. Throughput figures are reported or rounded from port and government disclosures; global rank and year-on-year comparisons can vary by ranking methodology and financial versus calendar year.
Indicative 2025 container-port comparison; M TEU means million twenty-foot equivalent units.
| World rank | Port | UN-LOCODE | 2025 throughput (M TEU) | YoY change | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| About 30 | Mundra | INMUN | About 7.4 | +8.0% | Gujarat, West Coast |
| About 32 | Nhava Sheva | INNSA | About 7.05 | +5.2% | Maharashtra, West Coast |
| About 55 | Kattupalli | INKAT | About 2.1 | +12.0% | Tamil Nadu, East Coast |
| About 60 | Chennai | INMAA | About 1.9 | +7.0% | Tamil Nadu, East Coast |
| About 85 | Vishakhapatnam Port | INVIS | About 0.9 | +4.0% | Andhra Pradesh, East Coast |
| About 95 | Cochin Port | INCOC | About 0.75 | +6.0% | Kerala, South-West Coast |
| About 100 | Kolkata Port | INKOL | About 0.7 | +3.0% | West Bengal, East Coast |
| About 110 | Pipavav | INPIP | About 0.6 | +5.0% | Gujarat, West Coast |
India Port Regions and Cargo Roles
India’s maritime geography is best understood through western, eastern, southern and inland logistics clusters. Inland clearance depots shown below support customs and multimodal cargo flows but are not seaports.
Western Coast: Gujarat and Maharashtra
The western coast is India’s principal container gateway area for northern, western and central Indian hinterlands, with strong links to manufacturing, petrochemicals and consumer markets.
Selected western ports and terminals
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nhava Sheva | INNSA | Maharashtra | Container gateway for Mumbai and northern hinterlands |
| Mundra | INMUN | Mundra | Containers, energy, project and bulk cargo |
| Pipavav | INPIP | Rajula | Containers, vehicles and general cargo |
| Mumbai | INBOM | Mumbai | General cargo and regional maritime trade |
| Kandla | INIXY | Kandla | Bulk, liquid cargo and western hinterland freight |
Southern and South-Eastern Coast
Tamil Nadu and Kerala provide gateway capacity for southern manufacturing, automotive, electronics, textiles and regional distribution across the Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean.
Selected southern ports and terminals
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chennai | INMAA | Chennai | Containers, automobiles and industrial cargo |
| Kattupalli | INKAT | Chennai | Container, vehicle and project cargo |
| Tuticorin | INTUT | Tuticorin | Containers, breakbulk and regional exports |
| Cochin Port | INCOC | Kochi | Containers, cruise, general and coastal cargo |
| Mangalore | INIXE | Mangalore | Energy, bulk and general cargo |
Eastern Coast and Bay of Bengal
Eastern ports connect mineral, steel, agricultural and industrial production with Asian, Middle Eastern and coastal markets.
Selected eastern ports and terminals
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vishakhapatnam Port | INVIS | Ore, coal, petroleum and container cargo | |
| Kolkata | INCCU | Kolkata | River-port containers and eastern hinterland cargo |
| Kolkata Port | INKOL | West Bengal | Containers, bulk and coastal trade |
| Paradip Garh | INPRT | Paradeep | Coal, iron ore, petroleum and bulk commodities |
| Krishnapatnam | INKRI | Krishnapatnam | Containers, bulk and agricultural cargo |
Inland Clearance and Northern Freight Cluster
Northern and central Indian inland clearance depots connect exporters and importers to coastal gateways by rail and road, especially for Delhi NCR, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and central India.
Selected inland freight locations
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Delhi(t)/icd Tughlakabad | INTKD | New Delhi | Inland container clearance and rail freight |
| New Delhi(p)/icd Patparganj | INPPG | New Delhi | Delhi NCR import and export cargo |
| Dadri | INDAD | Dadri | Rail-linked inland container distribution |
| Icd Moradabad | INMRD | Icd Moradabad | Inland customs and regional manufacturing cargo |
| Icd Rewari | INRRI | Icd Rewari | Industrial and containerized inland freight |
| Icd Pithampur | INPIT | Icd Pithampur | Central India automotive and industrial cargo |
India Port Codes and UN/LOCODE Structure
India port identifiers normally use the country prefix IN followed by a three-character location code. Always verify the operational terminal, customs location and carrier booking code before shipment release.
City-Level and Terminal-Level Differences
India records may distinguish a city, seaport, inland clearance depot or individual terminal. Similar names such as Kolkata, Chennai and New Delhi therefore require code-level checking before documentation is prepared.
How to Verify an India Port Code
Compare the code with the UNECE UN/LOCODE directory, the carrier booking confirmation and the relevant listing in the Ecer Freight port directory.
Shipping from India: Main Trade Lanes
Transit times are indicative port-to-port ranges and depend on the sailing schedule, transshipment, equipment availability, customs release and final inland delivery.
India–North Europe
Containerized machinery, textiles, chemicals, consumer goods and engineering products move through western and southern Indian gateways to Northern European hubs.
India–Mediterranean and Middle East
Shorter westbound services support trade in food products, pharmaceuticals, industrial inputs, textiles and project cargo.
India–South-East Asia and China
Regular services connect Indian manufacturing and consumer markets with China, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam and wider ASEAN supply chains.
India–East Africa and Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean network supports trade in manufactured goods, food commodities, construction materials and project shipments.
India Port Data Methodology
This guide separates Ecer Freight’s indexed location coverage from official cargo statistics and third-party global rankings. Figures are reviewed against the latest available public release and may use financial-year reporting in India.
- Ecer Freight Ports Database — first-party indexed coverage of 311 India ports and terminals, snapshot October 2026.
- India Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways — major-port cargo, container and annual performance statistics, principally FY2024–25.
- Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority — Nhava Sheva container and cargo performance disclosures.
- Adani Ports and SEZ — published operational information for Mundra and other terminals.
- UNECE UN/LOCODE — international location-code structure and location verification reference.
India Port FAQ
How many seaports does India have?
India has 311 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in the October 2026 database snapshot. This is an indexed coverage count, not a claim about every statutory or private port facility in India.
What is the largest container port in India?
Mundra (INMUN) and Nhava Sheva (INNSA) are among India’s largest container gateways. Relative positions can change depending on whether calendar-year, financial-year or terminal-group data is used.
What is India’s main port code prefix?
India’s UN/LOCODE country prefix is IN. Examples in the directory include INNSA for Nhava Sheva, INMUN for Mundra and INMAA for Chennai.
Which India regions are important for sea freight?
The Gujarat–Maharashtra west coast, the Chennai and southern Tamil Nadu cluster, the Visakhapatnam–Kolkata east coast and the connected inland Delhi NCR network are important freight regions.
How current is the India port data?
The first-party indexed count is based on the October 2026 snapshot. Official throughput indicators generally use the latest complete 2025 or FY2024–25 release available at review time, with updates subject to publication schedules.
Editorial note: India port coverage is compiled from the Ecer Freight port database and checked against publicly available Indian government, port-authority and international location-code sources. Indexed locations and port-code records are reviewed quarterly; throughput, rankings and sailing conditions remain subject to the latest official release and carrier confirmation.
Ecer Freight · Seaports in India: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026) · Data reviewed quarterly · Port Codes · Ports by Country · Contact