Swiss shipping giant MSC to buy 49% stake in Adani's Vizhinjam port for ₹13,220 crore

The Switzerland-based Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) Group, the world's largest container shipping firm, will acquire a 49% stake in the Vizhinjam International Seaport in Kerala for $1.397 billion (approximately ₹13,220 crore). This deal is billed as the largest foreign private investment in India's port infrastructure.

According to a statement from Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (APSEZ) on Tuesday, the investment will be made through MSC's container terminal operating arm, Terminal Investment Limited (TiL). APSEZ and TiL have entered into an agreement under which MSC will acquire a 49% interest in Adani Vizhinjam Port Private Limited (AVPPL), the concessionaire for the port. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals.

The partnership is expected to boost cargo volumes and cement Vizhinjam's emergence as a dominant transshipment gateway in the Indian Ocean region. Ashwani Gupta, Director and CEO of APSEZ, said, 'Vizhinjam port has emerged as a premier transshipment hub, becoming the first Indian port to cross 2 million TEUs within 18 months of operations. We are confident that this association will deliver enhanced supply chain efficiencies at a global scale and improve India's access to key markets.'

For APSEZ, the strategic collaboration provides greater volume visibility and faster ramp-up ahead of planned expansions. Vizhinjam is also expected to capture a higher share of Bangladesh cargo, which currently relies on competing Southeast Asian transshipment hubs. The collaboration may strengthen the port's presence on East Africa trade routes and increase relay cargo volumes.

Commissioned in December 2024, Vizhinjam is India's first deep-draft mega transshipment port with an initial capacity of 1.6 million TEUs. An expansion is underway to increase capacity by 3.5 times to 5.7 million TEUs by December 2028. The port features a natural draft of 18-20 meters, a 2.9-km breakwater, an 800-meter berth, and advanced infrastructure including 8 quay cranes and 24 fully automated yard cranes. As India's first automated port, it uses an AI-enabled indigenous Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS).

In its first year, the port handled 1.3 million TEUs and 615 vessels, becoming the fastest Indian port to cross 1 million TEUs. Within 18 months, it surpassed 2 million TEUs and 950 vessels. In June 2026, the port welcomed its 1,000th vessel. It has also handled over 70 Ultra Large Container Vessels (ULCVs)—the highest among Indian ports—along with 283 vessels exceeding 300 meters in length and 98 vessels requiring drafts greater than 16 meters.