News / Adani pushes to complete Mundra's fifth terminal as competition looms

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Adani Ports (APSEZ) is pushing hard to open of its under-construction fifth container terminal (CT5) at Mundra, India’s largest box port by volume.

Competition among terminal operators along India’s western coast for market share leadership is heating up as new projects add capacity and introduce new gateway options for container lines.

According to current indications, CT5 is set to begin operations in October, with an estimated initial annual capacity of 1m teu, which will increase to 1.8m-2m teu when phase 2 is ready, according to sources.

Additionally, Adani has already laid out plans to develop CT6, aiming to begin phase 1 operations in 2028, with capacity similar to CT5, the sources said.

The new terminal development is critical for Mundra, as its existing container-handling capacity and landside infrastructure ecosystems are already saturate, thanks to the steady pace of growth – MSC, for example, now moving substantial transhipment volumes via Mundra.

Mundra’s combined 2026 first-half throughput hit 3.6m teu, including volumes handled by DP World’s facility, according to available data.

However, the port has also experienced severe inland strains in recent months, causing some frustration among hinterland shippers.

APSEZ anticipates formidable competition from two upcoming projects in the region: a $550m terminal DP World is building at Tuna Tekra, near Kandla port; and the much-hyped Vadhavan port development, off Nhava Sheva.

Tuna Tekra will offer capacity of 2.2m teu, with a targeted start date of early 2027, while the plans for Vadhavan are in the preliminary, bidding stages.

Industry sources believe Mundra could see some traffic spill over to Tuna Tekra as smaller carriers, unable to secure berthing window flexibility at Mundra, seek alternative gateways.

But strategic carrier partnerships and efficient terminal management have been a hallmark of APSEZ’s operations.

“Our proven execution capabilities enable us to consistently deliver projects ahead of schedule,” the company said in an earnings statement. “Strong growth in our marine and logistics services reinforces the composite nature of our integrated operating model.

“As shore-to-door solutions rapidly scale across India, APSEZ is playing an increasingly strategic role in strengthening the country’s logistics efficiency and supply chain resilience,” it added.

Mundra had largely expanded its market share at the cost of JNPA (Nhava Sheva) volumes, but the reverse trend now seems to be taking hold, following PSA’s phase 2 launch at JNPA that added 2.4m teu capacity, and the recent rail connectivity enhancements via the commissioning of dedicated freight corridor (DFC) operations.

DFC-enabled double-stack container trains have begun regular trips out of JNPA to various inland container depots in India’s northern region.

The Indian port sector is on the cusp of rapid infrastructure development, so cargo movement patterns will be keenly watched by investors betting on new projects.

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