Throughput at India's ports accounted for 9.7m teu in 2011, or one-twelfth of what global container traffic averages based on economic output would suggest as necessary to meet the economy's needs.

“The opportunities for development throughput India... are exciting and energising and APM Terminals is committed to being a part of that growth,” said Kim Fejfer, ceo at APM Terminals.

Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNP), serving Mumbai, accounted for nearly 45% of all Indian containerised cargo traffic with throughput of 4.3m teu last year. APM Terminals Mumbai handled approximately 1.9m teu in 2011.

Congestion and capacity issues, however, have begun to affect India's trade growth, as existing container terminals are at 84% capacity and above, and access to inland points remains inadequate.

The Indian government has pledged to promote infrastructure growth and projected JNP box throughput to rise to 11m teu by 2016 and 23m teu by 2020.

Fejfer pointed out that private sector involvement will be a crucial component of this growth if the investment and regulatory environment in India do not act as constraints. “Port tariff regulations which penalise increased throughput and productivity will not assist in developing the needed infrastructure,” he said.