Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd and Port of Marseille Fos Forge Strategic Link in India-Europe Trade Corridor

The agreement was signed during the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron, underscoring the expanding strategic partnership between India and France and aligning with the recently concluded India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

Connecting the Final Leg of the IMEC Route

The collaboration reinforces the 6,000-km multimodal IMEC initiative launched at the G20 Summit 2023. On the eastern gateway, APSEZ operates the ports of Mundra Port and Hazira Port, which function as major hubs connecting South Asia with West Asia.

By integrating with the Port of Marseille Fos, the corridor now gains a strong western European entry point. The partnership adds approximately 70 million tonnes of capacity and extends the corridor’s reach deeper into the European hinterland, effectively completing the European end of the IMEC route.

Creation of the IMEC Ports Club

A central feature of the MoU is the co-founding of an IMEC Ports Club, envisioned as an institutional platform for coordination among major ports along the corridor.

The body will enable structured dialogue among ports, provide coordinated inputs for policy discussions and investment frameworks supporting IMEC infrastructure, and promote the corridor globally as a secure and sustainable Eurasian trade route through joint campaigns and international trade engagements.

Innovation, Digitalization and Green Maritime Corridor

The partnership goes beyond logistics cooperation and enters technical and sustainability collaboration.

Both sides will work on port digitalization, including smart-port platforms, data interoperability, and cybersecurity frameworks. The agreement also includes cooperation on alternative fuels, low-carbon bunkering solutions, and shore power supply as part of maritime decarbonization efforts.

A major highlight is the proposed Mundra-Marseille Fos Green Maritime Corridor, aimed at enabling low-carbon shipping between India and Europe and advancing environmentally responsible maritime trade.

About the Partnering Entities

APSEZ operates 15 strategically located ports and terminals across India and handles approximately 28% of the country’s total port volumes. The company has set an ambitious target of achieving 1 billion tonnes of throughput by 2030.

The Port of Marseille Fos handles 74 million tonnes of cargo annually and serves over 15 million consumers in Southern France, with access to 70 million consumers across Western Europe. The port is executing a €1 billion investment plan (2025-2029) focused on decarbonization and building green industrial ecosystems.

Adani Ports Share Price Performance

On Wednesday, Adani Ports' share price was trading in negative territory. As of 12:48 pm, the stock price of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone was trading at ₹1,549.60, down ₹16.70 or 1.07% from the previous close. Despite the intraday decline, the stock has delivered strong long-term returns, gaining 42.75% over the past one year and surging 167.6% over the last three years.