MSC Group acquires 49% stake in Adani Vizhinjam Port for over Rs 13,000 crore

TiL will invest $1.397 billion, equivalent to its proportionate 49% share of $2.85 billion, APSEZ said in a statement. “The partnership enhances volume visibility and accelerates ramp-up at Vizhinjam port, supported by incremental cargo volumes. This marks the third major collaboration between APSEZ and MSC following joint ventures at ports in Mundra (container terminal No. 3) and Ennore,” it 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,” said Ashwani Gupta, Whole-time Director and Chief Executive Officer, APSEZ.

The strategic collaboration with MSC Group will deliver significant benefits for APSEZ, including better cargo volume visibility and accelerate the ramp-up of its operations through additional cargo volumes, the company said. It will also enable a higher share of Bangladesh cargo, largely dependent on competing Southeast Asian transshipment hubs, while strengthening its presence on East Africa trade routes.

Vizhinjam port, located near Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, was commissioned in December 2024. It is the country’s first deep-draft mega transshipment port with 1.6 million TEU capacity, and is undergoing expansion that will increase capacity 3.5 times to 5.7 million TEUs by December 2028. The port is strategically located just 10 nautical miles from the East-West shipping route connecting Europe, the Persian Gulf, and the Far East.

The port features a natural draft of 18-20m, a 2.9 km breakwater, an 800m berth, and advanced infrastructure, including 8 quay cranes and 24 fully automated yard cranes. As India’s first automated port, Vizhinjam combines cutting-edge container handling systems, a world-class IT platform, and an AI-enabled indigenous vessel traffic management system (VTMS) to drive operational efficiency, safety and reliability.

During FY26, Vizhinjam port handled 1.3 million TEUs. In its first year, the port handled 1.3 million TEUs and 615 vessels, becoming the fastest Indian port to cross the 1 million TEU milestone. Within 18 months, it had surpassed 2 million TEUs and 950 vessels, setting another national record.

In June 2026, Vizhinjam welcomed its 1,000th vessel. The port has handled over 70 ultra large container vessels (ULCVs) — the highest among Indian ports — along with 283 vessels exceeding 300m in length, and 98 vessels requiring drafts greater than 16m.