Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd. (APSEZ) and Terminal Investment Limited (TiL), the container terminal arm of Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) Group, on Tuesday, signed a definitive agreement under which TiL will acquire a 49 per cent stake in Adani Vizhinjam Port Private Limited (AVPPL). TiL will invest USD 1.397 billion, representing its share of the USD 2.85 billion valuation. The transaction is subject to customary approvals, including regulatory clearances.
The partnership marks the third collaboration between APSEZ and MSC Group after their joint ventures at Mundra Container Terminal No. 3 and Ennore. According to the companies, it is the largest foreign private investment in Indian port infrastructure and is aimed at strengthening Vizhinjam port's position as a transshipment hub in the Indian Ocean region.
APSEZ said the partnership is expected to improve cargo volume visibility and accelerate the ramp-up of Vizhinjam port through additional cargo volumes. The company also expects a higher share of Bangladesh cargo, stronger connectivity on East Africa trade routes and increased relay cargo volumes.
"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. 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," APSEZ Whole-time Director and CEO Ashwani Gupta said.
TiL operates more than 100 container terminals across five continents and handles over 70 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) annually as part of the MSC Group.
Commissioned in December 2024, Vizhinjam is India's first deep-draft mega transshipment port with a capacity of 1.6 million TEUs. The port is undergoing expansion that will increase capacity 3.5 times to 5.7 million TEUs by December 2028.
Located around 10 nautical miles from the East-West shipping route linking Europe, the Persian Gulf and the Far East, the port has a natural draft of 18-20 metres, a 2.9-km breakwater, an 800-metre berth, eight quay cranes and 24 automated yard cranes. APSEZ said Vizhinjam is India's first automated port and uses automated container handling systems, a digital IT platform and an AI-enabled Vessel Traffic Management System.
During FY26, the port handled 1.3 million TEUs. The company said Vizhinjam crossed 1 million TEUs in its first year of operations and exceeded 2 million TEUs within 18 months while handling more than 950 vessels. In June 2026, the port received its 1,000th vessel. It has also handled more than 70 ultra large container vessels, 283 vessels longer than 300 metres and 98 vessels requiring drafts of more than 16 metres.
