‘Adani’ rules the world’s oceans! From Israel to Australia…how huge is the port business

Adani Port’s business is spread across the world.Image Credit source: PTI

Gautam Adani-led Adani Group not only runs India’s largest private port company, but its network has now spread to strategic sea routes of the world. Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited is currently one of the fastest growing forces in the global ports and logistics sector.

The latest news is that Adani Group is thinking of spreading its roots to Britain. There are reports of efforts to gain control in the British port company Associated British Ports (ABP). This British company has 21 ports under its control. If this deal goes through, Adani Port will be one of the leading port companies in the world.

After this news came out, the question is in discussion that where is Adani’s port business spread in the whole world and how big is the size of this business. Let us try to understand it in more detail in simple language….

Adani eyes British company

Currently, approximately 63.9 percent stake (controlling stake) in Associated British Ports is available for sale, which is held by two Canadian pension funds. Both these funds have appointed bankers to sell their stake. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) holds 30 per cent stake and Ontario Municipal Employees’ Retirement System (OMERS) holds 33.88 per cent stake in ABP. Adani Port is eyeing this stake.

According to the ET report, ABP owns and operates 21 strategically important ports in England, Scotland and Wales. These include Immingham, the UK’s largest port in terms of tonnage, and the country’s number one export port, Southampton. Every year 40 billion pounds are exported from Southampton. ABP is also a partner in the offshore wind industry and provides operations and maintenance (O&M) facilities for more than 50 percent of the activities in this sector.

First let’s look at some statistics…

1. Dominance in India: Adani Ports alone handles about 27 percent of India’s total sea cargo traffic and more than 44 percent of its container volume.
2. Global presence: Adani has strategic ports and terminals in countries like Israel, Sri Lanka, Australia and Tanzania.
3. There is no shortage in capacity either: The annual cargo capacity of Adani Ports is more than 650 million metric tons.
4. Flagship Port: Mundra Port of Gujarat is the largest commercial port of India which is in the hands of Adani Port.

Adani’s port empire in India

Adani has created a chain of ports on the eastern and western coasts of India, due to which it has a direct impact on most of the import-export of the country.

• Mundra Port (Gujarat): This is the largest and most modern private port of India. It alone handles more than 180 million metric tons of cargo.
• Vizhinjam Port: India’s first mothership deep-water transshipment hub. With its launch, India will not have to depend on Colombo or Singapore for international cargo.
• Krishnapatnam and Gangavaram (Andhra Pradesh): Ports handling huge bulk and container cargo in South and East India.
• Dhamra (Odisha): Major gateway for coal, iron ore and LNG in the eastern part of India.

Where is the business spread at the international level?

At the global level, Adani has targeted those ports which are located on the world’s most important trade routes. It also operates four international ports namely Haifa in Israel, Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, Colombo West International Terminal in Colombo and North Queensland Export Terminal in Australia. The special thing is that their capacity is 144 million metric tons. Adani Port has a significant influence on the ports of these four countries.

How big is this business of Adani?

The status of Adani Ports (APSEZ) in terms of business size and financial strength can be understood from the following figures:

1. Annual Cargo Handling: During the financial year 2024-25, Adani Ports handled a record amount of more than 420 million metric tons of cargo, which is increasing rapidly every year.
2. Market Capitalization: APSEZ is one of India’s most valuable logistics and infrastructure companies, with a market cap of around Rs 4 lakh crore.
3. Market Share: Out of every 4 tonnes of cargo moving by sea in India, 1 tonne and 1 out of every 2 containers passes through Adani’s port.
4. Network Integration: Adani not only runs the port, but also operates 100+ freight trains, more than 10 dry ports (ICDs), and millions of square feet of cold storage and logistics parks along with the ports.

Adani’s future strategy

Adani’s port model is not limited to just berthing ships and unloading goods. Their strategy can be understood in 3 main pillars:

1. Transport to Logistics: Complete integrated network from unloading goods from ships to delivering them directly to the factory via train or truck.
2. SEZ and Industrial Park: Huge special economic zones have been created near ports like Mundra, where companies set up their factories and import raw materials directly from the port and export finished goods.
3. Capture at Transshipment Hub: Through Colombo, Vizhinjam and Haifa, Adani is controlling the routes of the world through which international cargo ships pass.

What is the target of 2030?

Adani Group aims to become the world’s largest port operator by 2030. After establishing its monopoly on India’s vast coastline, Adani is now focused on connecting the sea routes of Europe, Africa and the Middle East. This is why governments and infrastructure analysts around the world keep a close eye on every new global port deal of Adani. In FY26, APSEZ handled 501 mt of cargo. The port operator aims to increase cargo handling capacity to 1 billion tonnes by 2030, and expects to handle 850 MT of cargo by then. It also plans to expand its marine services business by increasing its fleet of tugs and offshore support vessels from the current 136 to over 200.

Increase investment to Rs 1 lakh crore

According to APSEZ, it is planning to invest up to Rs 1 lakh crore in the next five years to increase capacity, out of which Rs 63,000 crore has been earmarked for expanding the domestic ports business. The capital expenditure (capex) for the international port expansion has been fixed at Rs 7,000 crore, which is mainly for the construction of the second phase of the Colombo Terminal. This capital expenditure does not include strategic mergers and acquisitions. Although the port operator had cash and cash equivalent assets of Rs 12,193 crore at the end of March, it has a total debt of Rs 55,103 crore.

Investors earned 22 percent in 6 months

If we talk about shares of Adani Port, it has given a return of 22 percent in the last 6 months. Whereas in the current year a growth of about 17 percent has been seen. If we talk about one year, investors have earned about 24 percent. Whereas in the last 5 years, Adani Port shares have seen a rise of 156 percent. In about 20 years, the company has given a return of 835 percent to the investors. If we talk about today i.e. Wednesday, there is a decline of about 3 percent. After which the company’s shares are trading at Rs 1726.30. Whereas during the trading session the company’s shares also reached Rs 1,720.45.