Chennai: The VO Chidambaranar Port here has handled a record cargo traffic of 22.68 million tonnes during the current financial year, registering a growth of 4.09 per cent over the corresponding period last year (21.79 million tonnes).

The port has handled 3,79,693 TEUs of containers in the current financial year up to October 31, registering a growth of 6.22 per cent over the corresponding period last year (3,57,443 TEUs), a port release said.

During October 2016, the port set a new record by loading 22,228 metric tonnes of Ilmenite sand, surpassing the previous record of 18,741 metric tonnes of the sand, which is the highest quantity, so far loaded in the port. It also handled a record quantum of 35,656 metric tonnes of thermal coal, outshining its previous record of 33,760 metric tonnes, it added.

Thanking the stakeholders, officers and the employees of the Port for their contributions towards the achievements, the chairman of the port said in a statement that the port is determined to improve performance and productivity in order to attract more volume of traffic.