V. O. Chidambaranar Port Authority has handled 2,46,662 tonnes of rock phosphate up to July in the current financial year 2025-26, reflecting a growth of 16.01 per cent when compared to 2,12,630 tonnes handled during the same period of the previous financial year 2024-25.

The handling of rock phosphate at VOC Port has shown a consistent upward trend over the years. In 2022-23, 6.63 lakh tonnes were handled, which increased to 7.06 lakh tonnes in 2023-24, and further rose to 7.88 lakh tonnes in 2024-25, demonstrating a clear positive growth trajectory.

VOC Port has developed strong infrastructure to ensure the smooth handling of rock phosphate and other bulk cargoes with high efficiency. Rock Phosphate is handled through the berths, NCB II and NCB III, which have a draft of up to 14.2 metres, and at Berths No.1 to 7. To facilitate faster operations, the Port deploys five Harbour Mobile Cranes along with eight hoppers for seamless cargo evacuation.

For storage and smooth cargo management, VOC Port provides extensive warehousing facilities. This includes three warehouses with a combined area of 14,940 square metres and two transit sheds with a total area of 10,878 square metres.

Major fertilizer manufacturers importing Rock Phosphate through the port include Greenstar Fertilizers Ltd, Tuticorin, Coimbatore Pioneer Fertilizers Pvt Ltd, Coimbatore, Silverline Fertilizers Pvt Ltd, Tuticorin, and K.P.R. Cropsciences Pvt Ltd, with units located in Koppal, Karnataka, and Biccavolu, Andhra Pradesh.

Rock Phosphate is a vital raw material for fertilizer production.

Susanta Kumar Purohit, IRSEE, Chairperson, VOC Port said that with the increase in fertilizer production by the existing industries located all along the southern part of India, Rock Phosphate handling at VOC Port is expected to grow further. He also expressed confidence that the Port is likely to handle over 1 million tonnes of Rock Phosphate in the current financial year 2025-26.