DP World's Vallarpadam International Container Transhipment Terminal (ICTT) has registered its highest ever throughput, in August 2013, by handing 39,003 TEUs. The earlier record was 37,363 TEUs in July 2012.

The terminal also handled 49 vessels in August, the highest ever in a month. The previous highest was 47 vessels in July 2012.

Mainline services such as AME, operated by ZIM Line, and NEMO by CMA CGM and Hapag-Lloyd have started attracting cargo from Bengaluru, Coimbatore, Tirupur, Salem and other manufacturing hubs in South India. ZIM Line has also launched a direct service from Kingston in the Caribbean to Kochi for transhipment to China, Tuticorin and Nhava Sheva. The vessel MV Finisterre had brought in around 1,800 containers to Kochi, of which 90 per cent was for transhipment.

The arrival of mainline services of Maersk Line and PIL from West Africa, carrying raw cashew for Kochi delivery, as well as transhipment for Tuticorin and Mangalore, have contributed to the increased throughput, according to DP World authorities.

CONCOR rail services from Bengaluru have also picked up, the ICTT handling five trains in August 2013 with around 700 TEUs. In August 2012, it was two trains with around 248 TEUs. CONCOR will be operating bi-weekly train services from Bengaluru going by the current growth in ex-im traffic towards Kochi, according to reports.

Those sending domestic containers from ports in Gujarat to ICTT have also started using the rail services to Bengaluru, which is seen as safer and faster than road, said a report.