India's east coast is about to get a serious capacity boost. Ennore Port – officially known as Kamarajar Port – has finalized plans to develop a second container terminal, and some of the biggest names in global shipping are already circling.
The project, estimated to cost around $450 million, will feature a 1,000-metre quay with an annual capacity of 2 million TEUs once fully operational. It's being rolled out under a design-build-finance-operate-transfer (DBFOT) public-private partnership model, and the port authority is targeting completion of the tender process by the end of the year.
Why all the buzz?
Ennore has been on a steady upward trajectory. In the 2025-26 fiscal year, the existing Adani-operated terminal handled approximately 701,000 TEUs – and the momentum hasn't slowed. Provisional data shows the port racked up 122,000 TEUs in April and May alone, a 30% year-on-year jump.
That growth hasn't gone unnoticed. Industry sources point to CMA CGM and Hapag-Lloyd (along with its Indian partner JM Baxi Group) as potential bidders for the new development. The interest makes sense – both carriers already have a footprint in India's port sector, and Ennore's expanding role as a direct-call destination for deepsea services has transformed what was once a feeder-only port into a strategic node on major tradelanes.
What this means for shippers
For businesses moving cargo in and out of India's east coast, this expansion is welcome news. The new terminal will add much-needed capacity, ease pressure on existing facilities, and improve connectivity with global trade routes.
But infrastructure alone doesn't move freight – expertise does. That's where XMAE Logistics comes in.
As an FMC-licensed freight forwarder and NVOCC, we combine the flexibility to act as your agent or as the carrier, giving us more tools to optimize your shipping strategy, secure better rates, and maintain control from origin to destination. Whether you're exporting manufactured goods, automotive components, or consumer products from India's industrial heartland, we cut through the complexity of global trade so you can focus on growing your business.
Our real-time tracking technology means you're never in the dark about where your shipment is – from the moment it leaves the factory to the moment it arrives at its destination. And with a network that spans key trade routes including China-to-UK, China-to-Canada, and beyond, we've got the reach and the relationships to keep your supply chain moving.
A port on the rise
Ennore's transformation is part of a broader story. India's port sector has become an increasingly attractive investment proposition for major carriers – MSC and CMA CGM already have flagship terminal partnerships with Adani at Mundra, and CMA CGM holds a concession at Nhava Sheva in partnership with JM Baxi. Now, Ennore is positioning itself as the next big opportunity on the east coast.
There are, of course, questions about whether the incumbent operator will face regulatory hurdles in bidding for the new terminal – competition rules don't encourage monopolistic control in the public port sector. But for shippers, that's ultimately good news. More competition means better service, more choice, and a more efficient port ecosystem.
The bottom line
Whether you're shipping containers out of Chennai or bringing goods into India's growing market, the Ennore expansion signals a future with more capacity, more direct services, and more options. And when you're ready to take advantage of it, XMAE Logistics is here to make sure your freight moves seamlessly – from booking to delivery.
Need a logistics partner who stays ahead of the curve? Get in touch with XMAE Logistics today and let's talk about how we can keep your supply chain moving – no matter where in the world your cargo needs to go.
