Mundra Port has once again reinforced its position as India’s most efficient commercial gateway by emerging as the best-performing leading seaport in the National Time Release Study (NTRS) 2026, released by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC). The study, which assesses cargo clearance efficiency across the country’s leading seaports, air cargo complexes, inland container depots and integrated check posts, recognizes Mundra Port for achieving the fastest cargo release time among all leading seaports in India.
According to the NTRS 2026, Mundra Port reduced its Average Release Time (ART) for import cargo from 55 hours 34 minutes in 2025 to just 32 hours 27 minutes in 2026, registering an impressive 41.6 percent improvement over the previous year. This remarkable performance enabled Mundra to comfortably achieve the National Trade Facilitation Action Plan (NTFAP) target of completing customs clearance within 48 hours, making it the standout performer among all Indian seaports.
The study further highlights that 78.39 percent of Bills of Entry processed at Mundra met the prescribed NTFAP clearance target, the highest compliance level among all leading seaports in the country. This achievement reflects the seamless coordination between Customs authorities, terminal operators, logistics partners and trade stakeholders, ensuring quicker cargo movement and enhanced supply chain efficiency.
Mundra Port has also emerged as a national benchmark in facilitating trade through technology-driven and customer-centric initiatives. The report notes that consignments moving through the Direct Port Delivery (DPD) mechanism at Mundra were cleared in an average of 24 hours 30 minutes, significantly faster than cargo routed through Container Freight Stations (CFS), where the average release time stood at 34 hours 52 minutes. The DPD model has substantially reduced dwell time, lowered logistics costs and accelerated cargo evacuation directly from the port terminals.
On this occasion Adani Ports Mundra Executive Director Mr. Rakshitbhai Shah said that “Being recognized as India’s fastest leading seaport for customs cargo clearance is a proud achievement for Mundra Port. This milestone reflects the strong collaboration between Mundra Customs, logistics partners, and the entire trade ecosystem. We sincerely thank the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), the Mundra Customs team led by Custom Commissioner Shri Nitin Saini, and all our stakeholders for their continued partnership.”
A closer look at the comparative data underscores Mundra’s leadership. Among leading seaports, Mundra’s average cargo clearance time of 32 hours and 27 minutes stands in sharp contrast to Mumbai’s Nava Sheva Port at 65 hours and 52 minutes, Chennai Port at 85 hours and 59 minutes, and Kolkata Port at 155 hours and 9 minutes. In the inland container depot segment, which handles railway cargo, Ludhiana recorded an average of 58 hours, while Tughlakabad and Whitefield took 85 hours and 45 minutes and 85 hours and 28 minutes respectively. Even when measured against air cargo complexes—traditionally associated with faster turnaround—Mundra’s performance is impressive. Ahmedabad Airport averaged 35 hours and 41 minutes, Bengaluru 42 hours and 59 minutes, Chennai 36 hours, Delhi 36 hours and 1 minute, Hyderabad 45 hours and 8 minutes, and Mumbai 43 hours and 24 minutes. In several instances, Mundra’s seaport operations have outpaced these air cargo facilities.
An even more noteworthy achievement was recorded for trusted traders under the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) programme. Import consignments handled through the combined AEO-DPD route at Mundra achieved an exceptional average release time of only 15 hours 18 minutes, the fastest among all leading Indian seaports. This demonstrates the effectiveness of risk-based customs facilitation and the growing adoption of trusted trader programmes that enable faster, predictable and more efficient cargo clearance.
The National Time Release Study also underscores the importance of advance filing, digital processing, risk management systems and trusted trader initiatives in reducing cargo clearance timelines. Mundra Port’s consistent investments in world-class infrastructure, digitization, automation and close collaboration with Customs and other regulatory agencies have enabled it to set new benchmarks in operational excellence and trade facilitation.
As India’s largest commercial port, Mundra continues to play a pivotal role in strengthening the country’s logistics ecosystem by providing faster cargo turnaround, reduced transaction costs and improved ease of doing business. The latest NTRS findings reaffirm Mundra Port’s leadership in delivering globally competitive port operations and supporting India’s vision of becoming a preferred destination for international trade and manufacturing.
This achievement at Mundra Port is attributable to a combination of operational strengths: the fastest delivery from the port terminal, the swiftest customs clearance processes, and highly efficient cargo evacuation from the port. Equally important is the presence of experienced, well-trained, and young manpower within the Mundra Customs administration. Under the leadership of Shri Nitin Saini, Customs Commissioner, Mundra Customs, and the dedicated efforts of his team, these factors have come together to set a new benchmark for cargo clearance efficiency in the country. Their collective work exemplifies how focused leadership and coordinated stakeholder engagement can transform port operations into a model of trade facilitation.
