For eight successive years - between 1999-2000 and 2006-07 - the port at Visakhapatanam occupied the number one slot among the twelve major ports in the country. In 2007-08, it lost that position to Kandla. Against Visakhapatanam's 64.59 million tonnes, Kandla managed to handle a little more at 64.89 million tonnes of cargo. The Kolkata port (including Haldia) slipped to the third position at 57.28 million tonnes. One common factor could be held responsible for the change in the major ports' pecking order in 2007-08