India has 12 major ports strategically located along its 7,500 km coastline, handling over 95% of the country’s trade by volume.
Strategic port facilities within the IOR serve as critical nodes for international commerce and transshipment, processing billions of tonnes of cargo annually.
Singapore
Global Transhipment Hub
World’s second- busiest port; handles over 37 million TEUs annually. It is the primary gateway between the IOR and the Pacific.
UAE
Largest Man-Made Harbour
Busiest port in the Middle East; acts as the primary gateway for the Persian Gulf with a capacity exceeding 19 million TEUs.
South Africa
Africa’s Busiest Port
Handles over 60% of South Africa’s container traffic; serves as a critical link for trade between South America, Asia, and Europe.
Australia
World’s Largest Bulk Export Port
Located on the NW coast of Australia (Indian Ocean); handles over 550 million tonnes of cargo annually, primarily iron ore
Saudi Arabia
World’s Largest Oil Export Port
The primary terminal for Saudi Aramco; handles roughly 90% of Saudi Arabia’s hydrocarbon exports (up to 9 million barrels/day)
Sri Lanka
Regional Transhipment Hub
Strategic “mid- point” of the IOR; handles nearly 7 million TEUs, with over 80% being transhipment cargo (much of it for India).
India
India’s Largest Container Hub
Jawaharlal Nehru Port (Nhava Sheva) handles over 55% of India’s total container traffic, crossing the 7 million TEU mark in FY25
Facing the Arabian Sea
Largest cargo handling port in India.
(Maharashtra)
India’s biggest container port.
(Goa)
(Karnataka)
(Kerala)
Facing the Arabian Sea
One of the oldest ports, key for automobiles and general cargo.
(Ennore, Tamil Nadu)
Major hub for iron ore and petroleum products.
Specializes in coal and iron ore exports.
Gateway to eastern states & landlocked countries like Nepal & Bhutan.
(West Bengal)
The Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) is a voluntary initiative that brings together the navies of the Indian Ocean littoral states. Through dialogue, co-operation, and shared understanding, IONS fosters regional maritime security and stability across one of the world’s most strategic oceanic regions.
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