Adani, JSW may bet ₹80K cr on ports in 5 yrs

Adani Ports, JSW Infra plan major expansion via capex, target combined volume market share of 42% by FY30

- PRACHI PISAL

India's two biggest private port operators—JSW Infrastructure (JSW Infra) and Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ)—are eyeing major expansion plans worth ₹80,000 crore, betting on the country's trade growth in the coming years and its maritime vision of attaining a cargo handling capacity of 10,000 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) by 2047.

JSW Infra, which has a cargo handling capacity of 170 mtpa, aims to enhance it to 288 mtpa by FY28 and further to 400 mtpa by FY30 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15 percent. The company is estimated to spend about ₹30,000 crore as capital expenditure to achieve its capacity target, said Elara Capital.

The company's approved projects are estimated to add a cargo handling capacity of 88 mtpa to its existing capacity of 170 mtpa by FY30. Its projects under review may add a capacity of 93 mtpa, while its potential projects are estimated to add a capacity of 49 mtpa by FY30.

The company's most significant projects are Jatadhar Port in Odisha, Keni Port in Karnataka, and Murbe Port in Maharashtra. The three greenfield projects are estimated to add 93 mtpa of cargo handling capacity for the company. A capex of ₹4,119 crore will be infused for Keni Port, and ₹3,000 crore for Jatadhar Port. Murbe Port project's cost is estimated to be ₹4,259 crore.