1Nhava Sheva (JNPA)
India’s busiest container port; serves Mumbai, Pune and North India by rail.
Major and non-major ports
India’s coastline of about 7,500 km has 12 major ports, run by port authorities under the Major Port Authorities Act, 2021 and overseen by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. More than 200 non-major ports are regulated by state maritime boards; several of them, such as Mundra in Gujarat, are run by private companies and now handle more cargo than many major ports.
What the port code means
Every port has a five-letter UN/LOCODE: two letters for the country and three for the place — INNSA is Nhava Sheva, INMAA is Chennai. The code appears on bookings, bills of lading and customs filings, so using the right one avoids misrouted cargo. Inland container depots (ICDs) such as Tughlakabad in Delhi have their own codes too, and many importers clear customs there instead of at the seaport.
Choosing a port
- Containers to and from North and West India: Nhava Sheva (JNPA) and Mundra, with rail links to inland depots.
- South India: Chennai, Kamarajar and Kattupalli on the east; Kochi and the new deep-water Vizhinjam transshipment port on the west.
- East India, Nepal and Bhutan: Kolkata and Haldia on the Hooghly river, and Visakhapatnam and Paradip on the coast.
- Bulk cargo such as coal, ore and petroleum mostly goes through Paradip, Kandla (Deendayal), Visakhapatnam and Mundra.
Transit time, the shipping line’s schedule and the cost of moving the container inland usually matter more than the distance to the port itself.
Questions
Which is the biggest port in India?
By containers, Jawaharlal Nehru Port (Nhava Sheva) near Mumbai and Mundra in Gujarat are the largest. By total cargo tonnage, Mundra and Paradip are among the leaders.
How many major ports does India have?
Twelve: Deendayal (Kandla), Mumbai, Jawaharlal Nehru, Mormugao, New Mangalore, Cochin, V.O. Chidambaranar (Tuticorin), Chennai, Kamarajar, Visakhapatnam, Paradip and Syama Prasad Mookerjee (Kolkata, with Haldia).
What is the port code for Nhava Sheva?
INNSA. Mumbai Port is INBOM, Mundra is INMUN and Chennai is INMAA.
What is Vizhinjam port?
A deep-water transshipment port near Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, built to let the largest container ships call in India instead of transshipping in Colombo, Singapore or Dubai. It began commercial operations in December 2024.
Sources
- Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
- Indian Ports Association
- UNECE — UN/LOCODE code list for India
- Vizhinjam: one year of commercial operations (India Shipping News)
Last checked 2026-11-11. Free to use; please check important details before you rely on them.