India-Brazil Iron Ore Deal: Adani, NMDC, Vale Sign MoU at Summit

Adani Ports, through its subsidiary, has signed a strategic MoU with NMDC and Brazil's Vale to develop an iron ore blending and value-addition ecosystem at Gangavaram Port. The agreement was signed during Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's official visit to India, highlighting the deepening strategic partnership between the two nations. The project includes creating a dedicated Special Economic Zone and facilities to handle the world's largest Very Large Ore Carriers (Valemax vessels). This initiative aims to make Gangavaram Port a major export hub, enhancing India's position in the global iron ore supply chain.

Key Points: Adani Ports, NMDC, Vale Sign Iron Ore MoU During Brazil Visit

  • Strategic iron ore blending facility
  • Dedicated SEZ at Gangavaram Port
  • Capacity to handle Valemax vessels
  • Strengthens India-Brazil partnership
3 min read

APSEZ, NMDC and Vale Brazil sign MoU on Iron Ore

Adani Ports, NMDC, and Brazil's Vale sign MoU for an iron ore blending hub at Gangavaram Port during President Lula's India visit.

"This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to building resilient, future-ready infrastructure - Ashwani Gupta, APSEZ"

Ahmedabad, February 21

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd, the world's fastest-growing integrated transport utility, through its subsidiary Adani Gangavaram Port Limited, has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding with NMDC Limited and Vale S.A. at the India-Brazil Business Forum Summit held in New Delhi.

According to a release by Adani Ports and Logistics, the MoU was signed during the official visit of H.E. Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, President of Federative Republic of Brazil to India, and in presence of Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry of India, underscoring the deepening India-Brazil strategic partnership.

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, operationalize, 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 up to 75 MMT, and it will become a hub for iron ore exports for India and the region.

"This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to building resilient, future-ready infrastructure that strengthens India's position in global supply chains," said 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)."

The collaboration will involve development of an integrated iron ore blending and value-addition ecosystem within a dedicated SEZ at Gangavaram Port.

It will also include establishment of fully mechanised berthing and cargo-handling facilities capable of accommodating Valemax vessels with a carrying capacity of up to 400,000 MMT.

End-to-end yard management, blending operations, and vessel discharge and loading to enhance supply chain efficiency will also be included.

This also aims to strengthen Gangavaram's position as a consolidated export hub for iron ore and port-led industrial growth.

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.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Strengthening ties with Brazil is a smart move. Hope this partnership creates more jobs in Andhra Pradesh and boosts the local economy. The SEZ should focus on skill development for the youth.
R
Rohit P
While the economic benefits are clear, I hope there is a strong plan for environmental safeguards. Port expansion and increased ore handling must not harm the coastal ecosystem. Sustainable development is key.
S
Sarah B
Impressive scale. Handling 75 MMT and the world's largest ore carriers shows serious ambition. This could significantly reduce logistics costs for our steel industry. A step towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat in minerals.
K
Karthik V
Good to see NMDC involved. As a public sector unit, it ensures national interest is represented. The 'value addition' part is crucial—we should export processed products, not just raw ore. More value, more forex.
M
Michael C
The article mentions efficiency, but I'd like to see more transparency on the timeline and the actual investment figures. Public-private partnerships are great, but accountability is essential for such large projects.

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