Gangavaram Port Iron Ore Hub to Transform India’s Future
Gangavaram Port Iron Ore Hub Creates Powerful Export Future for India
Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ), the world’s fastest-growing integrated transport utility, through its subsidiary Adani Gangavaram Port Limited (AGPL), has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NMDC Limited (A Government of India Enterprise) and Vale S.A. (Brazil) at the India–Brazil Business Forum Summit held in New Delhi.
This agreement brings together three powerful players in the iron ore and logistics sector. APSEZ is India’s largest private port operator and handles a large share of the country’s cargo. Over the years, it has built ports on both the west and east coasts. These ports help move coal, iron ore, fertilisers and many other goods. NMDC Limited is India’s biggest iron ore producer. It runs large mines in Chhattisgarh and Karnataka and supplies iron ore to many steel companies. Vale S.A. is one of the world’s biggest iron ore mining companies and is based in Brazil. Brazil is among the top exporters of iron ore globally, along with Australia.
The MoU was signed during the official visit of H.E. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, to India, and in the presence of Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry of India, underscoring the deepening India–Brazil strategic partnership.
India and Brazil have shared strong trade ties for many years. Both countries are part of BRICS, a group that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. These nations work together to improve trade and economic growth. Brazil supplies large amounts of iron ore and crude oil to India. India, in return, exports medicines, machinery and chemicals. The presence of both national leaders shows that the iron ore trade is now an important part of this partnership. It also shows that India wants to play a bigger role in global mineral supply chains.
The agreement establishes a strategic framework for the development of an iron ore blending facility and a dedicated Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Gangavaram Port. Under this collaboration, the parties will jointly develop, operationalise, and manage an integrated SEZ-based ecosystem for the blending, value addition, and commercialisation of iron ore. This 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. With this development, the capacity of Gangavaram Port will increase to 75 MMT, and it will become a hub for iron ore exports for India and the region.
Iron ore blending is an important process. Different types of iron ore have different iron content. By blending them, companies can create better quality ore for steel production. This improves value and helps companies earn more. Special Economic Zones also help industries grow faster. SEZs offer tax benefits and simpler rules, which attract investment. Gangavaram Port already has deep draft and modern equipment. It is located near major mining areas and steel plants. This makes it an ideal place to build such a facility. India has been increasing its iron ore exports in recent years, especially to countries in Asia. This project will help improve export quality and speed.
“This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to building resilient, future-ready infrastructure that strengthens India’s position in global supply chains,” said Mr Ashwani Gupta, Whole-time Director & CEO, APSEZ. “By integrating high-quality mineral logistics with advanced port capabilities, we are supporting industry requirements while contributing to the country’s broader economic growth. Our partnership with NMDC and Vale will help establish a modern, efficient, and sustainable ecosystem for the iron ore sector on the East Coast. Gangavaram Port is poised to become the first port in India capable of handling Valemax vessels — the world’s largest Very Large Ore Carriers (VLOCs).”
Valemax ships are among the largest cargo ships in the world. They were designed by Vale to carry huge amounts of iron ore from Brazil to Asia. These ships reduce transport costs because they carry more cargo in one trip. However, only a few ports in the world can handle such large ships. Ports need deep water and special equipment. If Gangavaram becomes capable of handling these ships, it will place India among a select group of global ports. This will also reduce transport costs and improve India’s competitiveness in the iron ore trade.
Development of an integrated iron ore blending and value-addition ecosystem within a dedicated SEZ at Gangavaram Port. This will help India improve the quality of iron ore before export. Many countries prefer blended ore because it gives better steel results. This can increase India’s export earnings. Establishment of fully mechanised berthing and cargo-handling facilities capable of accommodating Valemax vessels with a carrying capacity of up to 400,000 MMT. Modern cargo systems reduce loading and unloading time. This helps ships move faster and saves money. Faster operations also increase port efficiency.
End-to-end yard management, blending operations, and vessel discharge and loading to enhance supply chain efficiency. Better yard systems help manage cargo smoothly. This reduces delays and improves reliability. Global buyers prefer ports that can deliver cargo on time. Strengthening Gangavaram’s position as a consolidated export hub for iron ore and port-led industrial growth. Port-led growth is a key part of India’s economic strategy. Strong ports help industries grow and create jobs. They also attract global companies. Together, this partnership positions Gangavaram Port as a strategic gateway for global iron ore trade and reinforces India’s emergence as a competitive, future-ready maritime hub.
India has been working to modernise its ports under national programmes like Sagarmala. These efforts aim to reduce logistics costs and improve trade. Projects like this MoU support that vision. They help India move from being just a supplier of raw materials to becoming a global processing and export hub. This partnership also shows growing trust between India and global mining leaders. If successful, Gangavaram Port could become one of the most important iron ore export centres in Asia.
