The Financial Times reported on July 29 that Gautam Ardani, one of the richest men in Asia and India, is considering a bid for United British Ports (ABP), Britain‘s largest port operator. If the deal is struck, it will be Ardani‘s first investment in Britain and significantly expand the overseas reach of its port business. ABP operates 21 ports in England, Scotland and Wales, including Southampton, Britain‘s largest export port, and Immingham, Britain’s largest port, and accounts for about a quarter of Britain‘s maritime trade.
“For Adani, which aims to become the ‘biggest shipping company in the world’ by 2031, the acquisition of British port operators is key to expanding its port business,” the Indian Economic Times reported on 29. Adani is said to be in the early assessment phase of the acquisition and may also be seeking partners to jointly bid. “We continue to evaluate opportunities that align with our long-term strategy and create sustainable value for all stakeholders,” said a spokesperson for Adani Port and Economic Area Limited. In 2025, a total of 42.5 million tons of bulk cargo and 3.1 million containers of unit cargo were processed in 21 ports of the United Kingdom Port Company. India‘s website “CNBCTV18” reported on July 29 that the United Kingdom Port Company‘s business covers container transport, car transport, dry goods and liquid bulk cargo transport, cruise operations and industrial real estate areas. If the deal occurs, the estimated valuation could exceed £10 billion (£1 is about RMB9). India‘s Lookout magazine believes that if the deal is completed, it will become the largest international acquisition under the Adani port business. A Bloomberg April report said that this proposed sale has initially attracted the interest of several global infrastructure investors and port operators.
At present, Adani Group owns 15 multi-purpose ports in India, as well as four ports in Israel, Tanzania, Sri Lanka and Australia, with a total handling capacity of 144 million tons. In the 2026 financial year, Adani Port and Economic Area Limited handled a total of 501 million tons of cargo. As of the end of March, the company had 121.9 billion rupees (100 rupees = about 7 yuan) in cash, but its total debt also amounted to 551 billion rupees. The company also said it plans to invest up to 1 trillion rupees in expansion capacity over the next five years.