Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone has completed the acquisition of a 100 per cent stake in NQXT (North Queensland Export Terminal) Australia through a non-cash transaction, marking a key step in its international expansion strategy.

As part of the deal, APSEZ allotted 143.8 million equity shares with a face value of Rs 2 each to the seller, Carmichael Rail and Port Singapore Holdings, on a preferential basis.

Following the acquisition, APSEZ has raised its FY26 earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation guidance to Rs 223.5–233.5 billion, from the earlier range of Rs 210–220 billion. Cargo volume guidance has also been revised upwards to 545–555 million metric tonnes, compared with the earlier estimate of 505–515 million metric tonnes.

Commenting on the development, Ashwani Gupta, Whole-time Director and Chief Executive Officer of APSEZ, said NQXT is a high-quality asset with strong growth prospects, geographic advantages and a robust sustainability record. He added that the acquisition strengthens APSEZ’s presence along the East–West trade corridor, complementing its international ports in Israel, Colombo and Tanzania.

NQXT is a high-growth, cash-generating asset, primarily supported by long-term take-or-pay contracts. In the previous financial year, the terminal had a contracted capacity of 40 million tonnes per annum and generated Ebitda of AUD 228 million. On a pro forma basis, NQXT accounts for around 6 per cent of APSEZ’s FY25 revenue and 7 per cent of its Ebitda.

APSEZ reported revenue of Rs 304.75 billion and Ebitda of Rs 190.25 billion in FY25, during which it handled cargo volumes of 450.2 million metric tonnes. The company’s current cargo handling capacity stands at 633 million tonnes per annum, giving it a 28 per cent share of India’s total port volumes.

The acquisition of NQXT, a natural deep-water, multi-user export terminal with a nameplate capacity of 50 million tonnes per annum, was approved by APSEZ in April. The company said the closure of the transaction is a major milestone in its roadmap to achieve 1 billion metric tonnes of cargo handling by 2030.

Located at the Port of Abbot Point in North Queensland, NQXT operates under a long-term lease from the Queensland government, with a remaining tenure of 85 years. The terminal primarily serves mining customers in the Bowen and Galilee basins, with exports mainly destined for North and South-East Asian markets.