An MSC vessel arrives at the Vizhinjam International Seaport in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The partnership is expected to boost the potential of the port, including cargo volumes, although the transaction is subject to customary approvals, including regulatory ones. (file)
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Billed as the largest foreign private investment in the domestic port infrastructure in India, the Switzerland-based Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) Group, the world’s largest container shipping company, will acquire a 49% stake in the Vizhinjam International Seaport in Kerala for $1.397 billion (around ₹13,220 crore).
According to a statement issued by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (APSEZ) on Tuesday (June 30, 2026), the MSC will make the investment through its container terminal operating and investing arm, TiL. The APSEZ and TiL have entered into an agreement under which MSC Group will invest for 49% interest in Adani Vizhinjam Port Private Limited (AVPPL), the concessionaire for the Vizhinjam port, cementing Vizhinjam’s emergence as a dominant transshipment gateway in the Indian Ocean region.
The partnership is expected to boost the potential of the port, including cargo volumes, although the transaction is subject to customary approvals, including regulatory ones.
According to Ashwani Gupta, Director and CEO, APSEZ, “Vizhinjam port has emerged as a premier transshipment hub, becoming the first Indian port to earn the unique distinction of crossing 2 million TEUs within 18 months of operations.” The APSEZ is confident that the association will deliver enhanced supply chain efficiencies at a global scale and improve India’s access to key global mature and developing markets,” he said.
The strategic collaboration between APSEZ and MSC Group is expected to deliver significant advantages for APSEZ, including greater volume visibility and faster ramp-up ahead of planned expansions, driven by additional cargo volumes. Vizhinjam is also expected to receive a higher share of Bangladesh cargo, largely dependent on competing Southeast Asian transshipment hubs. The collaboration is also expected to strengthen the presence of the port on East Africa trade routes, apart from elevated relay cargo volumes.
Expansion on
Commissioned in December 2024, the Vizhinjam port is India’s first deep-draft mega transshipment port with 1.6 million TEU capacity. The port is undergoing expansion that is expected to increase its capacity by 3.5 times to 5.7 million TEUs by December 2028.
The port features a natural draft of 18-20m, a 2.9-km breakwater, an 800-m 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, and an AI-enabled indigenous Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS) to drive operational efficiency.
In the first year of commissioning, 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 surpassed 2 million TEUs and 950 vessels. In June 2026, Vizhinjam also welcomed its 1,000th vessel.
The port has also handled over 70 Ultra Large Container Vessels (ULCVs) — the highest among Indian ports — along with 283 vessels exceeding 300 m in length and 98 vessels requiring drafts greater than 16 m.
Published – June 30, 2026 11:54 am IST
