- Record monthly throughput jumps 19% YoY to 50 MMT in August
- Dry cargo leads with 25% growth; containers rise 15% on Vizhinjam–Colombo transshipment push
- YTD cargo touches 234.4 MMT, up 16%; APSEZ strengthens trajectory towards FY31 milestone
NE BUSINESS BUREAU
AHMEDABAD, SEPT 2
The billion-tonne ambition is no longer just a distant destination for Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ)—the numbers are beginning to show the scale of the journey. APSEZ handled a record 50 million metric tonnes (MMT) of cargo in August 2026, its highest-ever monthly volume, marking a robust 19% year-on-year increase and underscoring the growing strength of its domestic and international port network.
The August performance is significant not simply because the company crossed the 50-MMT mark, but because the growth was broad-based. Dry cargo surged 25% YoY while container volumes climbed 15%, indicating that APSEZ’s diversified cargo strategy is gaining traction across multiple segments rather than depending on a single traffic stream.
The company said the milestone reflects the success of its diversified growth strategy, with strong container performance supported by the rapid expansion of its transshipment platform at Vizhinjam and Colombo, helping APSEZ deepen its participation in regional trade flows.
At the same time, APSEZ is strengthening its presence in liquid cargo and gaining momentum in dry cargo segments, including coastal cargo, widening the base of its cargo-handling franchise.
234.4 MMT already handled in five months
The August record also lifts APSEZ’s cumulative cargo handling for the April-August period to 234.4 MMT, representing 16% YoY growth. Dry cargo increased 17% during the period, while container volumes expanded 15%.
The company’s logistics rail operations handled 54,131 TEUs in August, a sequential increase of 6%, although year-to-date logistics rail volumes remained lower year-on-year at 250,461 TEUs.
The latest operational numbers therefore point to a wider transformation underway at APSEZ—from a port operator focused primarily on cargo handling to an increasingly integrated ports, logistics and maritime infrastructure platform.
From record month to billion-tonne ambition
The August milestone strengthens APSEZ’s stated ambition of reaching 1 billion metric tonnes of annual port cargo by FY31. The company’s broader 2031 roadmap envisages substantial expansion in cargo capacity, technology, logistics and decarbonisation, with the billion-tonne target forming a central pillar of its growth strategy.
The company had earlier said its strategy was aimed at more than doubling revenue and EBITDA by FY31, underpinned by reaching one billion tonnes of port cargo by December 2030, alongside expansion of asset-light and asset-zero services and its marine fleet.
The latest performance suggests that the growth engine is being powered simultaneously by bulk and dry cargo, containers, transshipment, coastal movement and liquid cargo—a combination that could prove critical as APSEZ seeks to scale its network over the next four years.
Markets take note
The record cargo announcement also found a positive response in the stock market. APSEZ shares were trading higher on Wednesday, with the stock gaining as much as 1.45% to ₹1,670 during the session, according to market reports.
The operational achievement comes against the backdrop of APSEZ’s strong FY26 performance. The company had reported consolidated FY26 revenue of ₹38,736 crore, up 25% year-on-year, while EBITDA rose 20% to ₹22,851 crore and PAT increased 16% to ₹12,782 crore.
With 50 MMT now achieved in a single month, APSEZ has delivered a powerful numerical marker of scale. The bigger question—and the one that will define its next phase—is whether this monthly momentum can be steadily converted into the annual billion-tonne reality it has set for FY31.
