Expansion
India Aims to Quadruple Port Capacity by 2047, Eyes Rotterdam Maritime Ties
By News Desk ·
Key takeaways
- Piyush Goyal said India expects port capacity to double twice over the next two decades, reaching four times current levels by 2047.
- Goyal said India sees opportunities to work with the Port of Rotterdam on port infrastructure, green energy and carbon capture.
- Goyal said a maritime institute of excellence is being established in his Mumbai constituency to train seafarers.
India plans to quadruple its port capacity by 2047, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said during a visit to Rotterdam, where he outlined opportunities for maritime cooperation with the Port of Rotterdam. ANI News reported the remarks on October 25, 2026.
Goyal Sets Out India's 2047 Port Capacity Goal
Goyal said India's expanding economy and growing international trade will require substantial investment in modern port infrastructure and maritime connectivity. "Despite doubling our port capacity over the past decade, India still needs more capacity. By 2047, we expect port capacity to double twice over the next two decades to support GDP growth and international trade," he said.
Goyal said India could draw on Rotterdam's expertise in developing port infrastructure and improving operational efficiency. "As we modernise existing ports and develop state-of-the-art facilities, we see great opportunities to work with the Port of Rotterdam, learn from its experience and strengthen cooperation between India and Europe," he said.
He pointed to carbon capture and green energy as areas that could create new trade opportunities. "We focus on carbon capture and green energy that offers significant environmental benefits and opens new opportunities for green energy trade," Goyal said.
Goyal said the Sagarmala initiative is expanding India's maritime ecosystem, and that a maritime education and training institution is being established in his Mumbai constituency. "In my Mumbai constituency, we are establishing the country's largest maritime institute of excellence, a university to develop seafarers," he said.
Port of Rotterdam's Scale and Recent Moves
Port of Rotterdam is Europe's largest port by cargo tonnage, handling approximately 1.03 billion tonnes annually, according to akta.pro company records. The same records show first-quarter 2026 throughput of 103 million tonnes, down 0.7% from 103.7 million tonnes a year earlier, and about 27,384 sea vessel visits a year.
In June 2026 the port signed an agreement with Necron Group and PTP Group to develop the Rotterdam Food Hub, a 38-hectare agro-food logistics site at Europoort, with a final investment decision projected for early 2027. It also launched the Quantum Communication Fieldlab Rotterdam at RDM Next that month.
Rotterdam's Recent Port Developments
In October 2026 the port launched the Green Innovation Compass, an online platform developed under the European Horizon 2020 MAGPIE project to help ports assess sustainable and digital innovations, EuropaWire reported. In September 2026 Arctic Gateway Group and the Port of Rotterdam signed an agreement to strengthen transatlantic trade linking Western Canada and Europe, according to the Financial Post.
In July 2026 the Port of Rotterdam Authority completed phase one of the Yangtzekanaal widening project, with contractor consortium Hakkers, De Klerk and Van Oord delivering a new tugboat quay with 12 berths and shore power facilities, EuropaWire reported.
Food Hub Investment Decision Due
The Rotterdam Food Hub's final investment decision is projected for early 2027, according to company records.