Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ), India’s largest integrated transport operator, is set to commence operations of a dedicated Empty Container Yard (ECY) at Mundra Port and Special Economic Zone (SEZ), strengthening infrastructure for the efficient management and movement of empty containers. The initiative is designed to improve turnaround times, streamline container handling and support the growing requirements of India’s import-export supply chains.
APSEZ accounts for approximately 45.5% of India’s container market as of FY26, with Mundra Port alone handling nearly 35% of the country’s container trade. As India’s largest container-handling port, Mundra processes an estimated 1.6 million TEUs of empty containers every year, highlighting its importance to the national logistics ecosystem.
The dedicated ECY is being established as part of APSEZ’s Ambition 2031 roadmap and its ongoing investments to expand capacity across its network. The company plans to add more than 6 million TEUs of container-handling capacity over the next five years, with Mundra serving as a key growth hub. The new facility will provide integrated services covering the complete empty-container lifecycle, including storage, inspection, maintenance and onward movement to exporters and container freight stations (CFSs).
The facility will be operated by APSEZ and/or its partners, including CFS operators and shipping lines. By consolidating empty-container activities within the Mundra Port SEZ, the initiative is expected to reduce unnecessary container movements, improve coordination among stakeholders and optimize logistics costs. It will also facilitate closer interaction between Customs authorities, shipping lines, terminal operators and transporters.
Ashwani Gupta, Whole-time Director and Chief Executive Officer, APSEZ, said the dedicated Empty Container Yard would enhance efficiency across the container ecosystem by enabling faster turnaround and reducing avoidable movements. He added that strengthening trade-enabling infrastructure remains central to APSEZ’s efforts to support India’s economic growth and contribute to the vision of Viksit Bharat.
The initiative also aligns with the broader focus on developing technology-enabled logistics infrastructure and improving the ease of doing business. By providing a centralized location for empty-container operations, the ECY is expected to improve asset utilization, simplify operational coordination and support more efficient cargo flows through one of India’s most important maritime gateways.
APSEZ, part of the diversified Adani Group, operates an integrated logistics network spanning port handling, rail transportation, multimodal logistics parks, warehousing and road-based delivery. The company operates 16 strategically located ports and terminals across India, along with international port assets and an extensive logistics infrastructure.
With cargo-handling capacity of approximately 653 million tonnes per annum, APSEZ handles around 27% of India’s total port volumes and is targeting throughput of 1 billion tonnes by 2030. Its integrated “shore-to-door” model combines physical infrastructure with digital and AI-enabled logistics capabilities to support efficient movement of cargo from origin to destination.
