Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ), through its subsidiary Adani Gangavaram Port Ltd, has signed a memorandum of understanding with NMDC Ltd and Brazil's Vale S.A. to develop an iron ore blending facility and a dedicated Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Gangavaram Port.
The agreement was signed at the India-Brazil Business Forum Summit in New Delhi during the visit of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, in the presence of India's Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.
Blending Facility and SEZ Planned
Under the MoU, the three companies will establish an integrated ecosystem at Gangavaram for iron ore blending, value addition and commercialisation. The project is aimed at strengthening the iron ore export value chain on India's east coast and improving operational efficiency in mineral processing and trade.
The development is expected to raise Gangavaram Port's capacity to up to 75 million metric tonnes (MMT), positioning it as a consolidated export hub for iron ore from India and the wider region.
The collaboration also envisages fully mechanised berthing and cargo-handling facilities capable of accommodating Valemax vessels, among the world's largest very large ore carriers, with capacities of up to 400,000 tonnes. Plans include end-to-end yard management, blending operations and vessel loading and discharge systems to streamline the supply chain.
Strategic Positioning on the East Coast
Gangavaram, located in Andhra Pradesh, is one of India's deepest ports and has been a key asset in APSEZ's east coast network. The proposed SEZ-based infrastructure is expected to support export-oriented activity and expand the port's role in bulk cargo handling.
For NMDC, India's largest iron ore producer, and Vale, one of the world's top mining companies, the partnership provides an additional channel to strengthen export logistics and blending capabilities closer to key Asian markets.
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