Mumbai, Feb 23 (.) Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) subsidiary company Adani Gangavaram Port Limited (AGPL) has inked an MoU with state-run NMDC Ltd as well as Vale SA of Brazil to develop an iron ore blending facility and a dedicated Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Gangavaram Port in Andhra Pradesh, it has been officially announced.
The MoU was signed during the official visit of Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the presence of union Commerce & Industry Minister Piyush Goyal at the India–Brazil Business Forum Summit held recently in New Delhi, according to a statement.
As part of the collaboration, the three companies will jointly develop, operationalise and manage an integrated SEZ based ecosystem for the blending, value addition and commercialisation of iron ore.
The initiative is designed to strengthen the iron ore export value chain on India’s East Coast while enhancing efficiency, scale and global competitiveness in mineral processing and trade.
As part of the deal, the capacity of Gangavaram Port will increase up to 75 MMT and it will become a hub for iron ore exports for India as well as the region.
Commenting on the deal, APSEZ’s Whole Time Director & CEO Ashwani Gupta said, “This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to building resilient, future-ready infrastructure that strengthens India’s position in global supply chains. By integrating high-quality mineral logistics with advanced port capabilities, we will support industry requirements.
“Our partnership with NMDC and Vale will help establish a modern, efficient, and sustainable ecosystem for the iron ore sector on the East Coast of India. Gangavaram Port is poised to become the first port in India capable of handling Valemax vessels which are known to be the world’s largest Very Large Ore Carriers (VLOCs)”.
The deal envisages establishment of fully mechanised berthing and cargo‑handling facilities capable of accommodating Valemax vessels with a carrying capacity of up to 400,000 MMT, besides setting up infrastructure for end-to-end yard management, blending operations and vessel discharge as well as to enhance supply chain efficiencies.
The deal aims to strengthen Gangavaram’s position as a consolidated export hub for iron ore and port-led industrial growth, which will position the port as a strategic gateway for global iron ore trade as well as reinforce India’s emergence as a competitive, future-ready maritime hub.
. BT .