KARACHI: The Karachi Port handled 54.685 million tonnes cargo during 2017-18 compared to 52.493m tonnes the preceding year, registering an increase of 4.18 per cent.

According to details the total dry cargo (imports and exports) totalled 39.155m tonnes, up 5.33pc over 37.173m tonnes handled in 2016-17.

The port handled 15.530 million tonnes of liquid bulk cargo during the period as against 15.320m tonnes recording a nominal increase of 1.37pc over the previous year.

The handling of dry export cargo recorded a rise of 34.78pc to 11.509m tonnes against 8.539m tonnes whereas liquid bulk cargo export also increased by 14.51pc to 1.507m tonnes from 1.316m tonnes recorded in 2016-17.

Major component which helped to push dry export cargo were included wheat, cement, clinker and urea. The liquid bulk cargo exports included ethanol and molasses.

Against this the import dry cargo was mainly constituted fertiliser DAP, iron scrap, food grains etc. The liquid import cargo mostly comprised crude oil, bitumen, high-speed diesel et.

Published in Dawn, July 25th, 2018