- Terminal Investment Limited (TiL), the MSC Group’s terminal arm, acquires a 49% stake in Adani Vizhinjam Port in India’s largest foreign private investment in port infrastructure
- Landmark partnership strengthens Vizhinjam’s rise as the Indian Ocean’s premier transshipment gateway with capacity set to surge from 1.6 million TEUs to 5.7 million TEUs by 2028
- Third strategic collaboration between APSEZ and MSC follows successful partnerships at Mundra and Ennore, reinforcing a long-term global logistics alliance
- Deal enhances cargo visibility, expands access to Bangladesh and East African trade routes and accelerates Vizhinjam’s growth trajectory
- India’s first automated deep-draft mega port continues to set national benchmarks, crossing 2 million TEUs in just 18 months and welcoming its 1,000th vessel in June 2026
NE BUSINESS BUREAU
AHMEDABAD, JUNE 30
In one of the most significant infrastructure transactions in India’s maritime history, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd. (APSEZ) and the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) Group have deepened their long-standing strategic partnership with a USD 2.85-billion deal under which MSC’s terminal arm, Terminal Investment Limited (TiL), will acquire a 49% stake in Adani Vizhinjam Port Private Limited (AVPPL).
The transaction, regarded as the largest foreign private investment ever made in Indian port infrastructure, is expected to reinforce Vizhinjam’s emergence as one of the world’s fastest-growing transshipment hubs and further strengthen India’s position in global maritime trade.
Under the definitive agreement, TiL will invest USD 1.397 billion, representing its proportionate 49% share of the enterprise value of USD 2.85 billion. The transaction remains subject to customary regulatory and statutory approvals.
The partnership marks the third major collaboration between APSEZ and the MSC Group after their successful joint ventures at Mundra Container Terminal No. 3 and Ennore, reflecting the growing strategic alignment between India’s largest integrated transport operator and the world’s largest transport and logistics conglomerate.
Vizhinjam Port, commissioned in December 2024, has rapidly transformed into India’s premier deep-draft transshipment gateway. Within just 18 months of operations, it became the country’s first port to cross 2 million TEUs, while simultaneously setting new benchmarks in cargo handling efficiency and vessel traffic.
The port currently has a handling capacity of 1.6 million TEUs and is undergoing a major expansion that will raise capacity by 3.5 times to 5.7 million TEUs by December 2028, enabling it to cater to the world’s largest container vessels and rising global cargo volumes.
Strategically located barely 10 nautical miles from the busy East-West international shipping corridor connecting Europe, the Persian Gulf and the Far East, Vizhinjam enjoys a natural draft of 18-20 metres, enabling direct berthing of Ultra Large Container Vessels without extensive dredging.
Speaking on the development, Ashwani Gupta, Whole-time Director and CEO, APSEZ, said: “Vizhinjam port has emerged as a premier transshipment hub and ramped up at an unprecedented pace, becoming the first Indian port to earn the unique distinction of crossing 2 million TEUs within 18 months of operations.”
He added: “I am delighted to expand APSEZ’s long-standing partnership with MSC to Vizhinjam, as we prepare for the port’s next leg of journey. I am confident that our association will deliver enhanced supply chain efficiencies at a global scale and improve India’s access to key global mature and developing markets.”
The alliance is expected to provide APSEZ with enhanced cargo visibility, accelerate volume ramp-up well ahead of projections and significantly strengthen its presence across Bangladesh-bound cargo, East African trade routes and relay cargo operations.
TiL ranks among the world’s largest container terminal operators, managing a portfolio of more than 100 container terminals across five continents with an annual throughput exceeding 70 million TEUs, making it a formidable strategic partner for Vizhinjam’s next phase of expansion.
India’s first fully automated container port, Vizhinjam integrates advanced cargo-handling systems with a world-class digital platform and an AI-enabled indigenous Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS), delivering high levels of operational efficiency, safety and reliability.
The port’s operational performance continues to set new national records. During FY26, it handled 1.3 million TEUs and 615 vessels, becoming the fastest Indian port to cross the one-million TEU milestone. Within 18 months, throughput exceeded 2 million TEUs, while vessel traffic crossed 950 ships. In June 2026, Vizhinjam welcomed its 1,000th vessel, underscoring its growing stature as India’s gateway for global transshipment.
The port has also handled more than 70 Ultra Large Container Vessels (ULCVs)—the highest among Indian ports—along with 283 vessels exceeding 300 metres in length and 98 vessels requiring drafts greater than 16 metres, reinforcing its capability to accommodate the world’s largest container ships.
With the latest investment, APSEZ and MSC are not merely expanding a commercial partnership—they are laying the foundation for a globally competitive maritime ecosystem that is expected to reshape cargo movement across the Indian Ocean and firmly position India at the centre of international shipping networks.
