Adani Ports, NMDC & Vale Brazil Ink MoU to Develop Iron Ore Hub at Gangavaram Port
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New Delhi, Feb 21, 2026: Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ), through its subsidiary Adani Gangavaram Port Limited, has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NMDC Limited and Vale S.A. to develop an integrated iron ore ecosystem at Gangavaram Port.
The MoU was signed during the India–Brazil Business Forum Summit in New Delhi, in the presence of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.
Iron Ore Blending Facility & SEZ at Gangavaram
The agreement provides a strategic framework to establish:
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An iron ore blending and value-addition facility
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A dedicated Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Gangavaram Port
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Fully mechanised berthing and cargo-handling infrastructure
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Capability to handle Valemax vessels (Very Large Ore Carriers)
With this development, Gangavaram Port’s capacity is expected to increase up to 75 million metric tonnes (MMT), positioning it as a major iron ore export hub on India’s East Coast.
Strengthening India–Brazil Mineral Trade
The collaboration aims to:
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Enhance efficiency in iron ore logistics and exports
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Develop an integrated SEZ-based mineral processing ecosystem
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Strengthen India’s role in global iron ore trade
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Improve supply chain resilience and competitiveness
APSEZ stated that Gangavaram Port is poised to become the first Indian port capable of handling Valemax vessels with carrying capacities of up to 400,000 tonnes.
About APSEZ
APSEZ, part of the Adani Group, operates 15 ports and terminals across India with a cargo handling capacity of 633 million tonnes per annum. The company handles approximately 28% of India’s total port volumes and targets 1 billion tonnes throughput by 2030.
This partnership reinforces Gangavaram Port’s emergence as a strategic gateway for global iron ore trade and supports India’s growing role in maritime infrastructure and mineral exports.