Adani's Mundra Port turns 25

When the M T Alpha 2 sailed into Mundra on October 7, 1998, to unload its cargo, no one could have foreseen the port's meteoric rise into the behemoth it is today. It has become the launchpad for Gautam Adani, a relatively unknown businessman at the time, to ascend as India?s largest port operator. Mundra Port, now in its 25th year, stands as India's largest commercial port in terms of handled volumes, achieving this milestone in FY14. It not only marked its significance by becoming the first commercial port in India to handle 100 million tonnes (mt) of cargo but also went on to handle 150 mt, ending FY23 with a total of 155.4 mt against its capacity of 264 mt. Mundra Port is India?s leading container port, managing 6.64 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in FY23, out of which 1.6 million TEUs were transhipment containers, accounting for a significant 75% of India?s transhipment volumes. With a 33% share in India's container volumes, Mundra operates five container terminals across 12 berths with a combined capacity of approximately 8 million TEUs. The port's container segment has experienced remarkable growth, with a 15% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) in the last decade, outpacing the overall port volume growth, which stood at a 7% CAGR. Mundra is among the five Indian ports capable of accommodating fully laden Capesize vessels, the largest dry bulk cargo ships. It boasts one of the most extensive port-based industrial ecosystems in India, hosting the country?s largest port-based special economic zone (SEZ) covering 12,000 hectares. This SEZ encompasses diverse industries such as energy, oil and gas, electronics manufacturing, and chemicals, generating substantial cargo for the port. Furthermore, Mundra Port houses the largest coal import terminal and exhibits a diverse capability in handling various commodities including dry bulk, liquid cargo, Ro-Ro, LPG, LNG, and project cargo. Its strategic location allows it to serve India?s western, central, and landlocked northern hinterland, including regions like the National Capital Region, Delhi, Gujarat, Punjab, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh. It is also connected to the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor and the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor. Historically, Indian ports suffered from high-capacity utilisation, leading to extended waiting periods for vessel berthing, prolonged vessel turnaround times, lack of supply chain integration, and subsequent impacts on costs and cargo visibility/reliability. Mundra, which began as a captive jetty for the Adani Group?s coal business, transformed into a fully-fledged commercial port through a 30-year concession agreement with the Gujarat Maritime Board. Over the years, Mundra Port has earned its reputation for exceptional customer-centric practices, superior productivity, innovative logistics solutions, swift vessel turnaround, and efficient cargo/container evacuation. It has not just become a geographical reference; Mundra has emerged as a symbol of modern India, transforming the perception of the country, its sector, and its global trade presence. In FY23, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ), India?s largest private port operator, handled a staggering 336.6 mt of cargo across its 12 multi-purpose ports/terminals along the country?s coastline. As Mundra Port?s 30-year concession approaches its end in February 2031, all eyes are on the Gujarat government. The question looms: will tycoon Gautam Adani succeed in securing an extension for the ?jewel? in his port?s crown beyond 2031? The fate of this pivotal hub in India?s maritime trade landscape rests in the balance.