Seatrade Maritime: AD Ports and Louis Dreyfus to build Karachi bulk facility

AD Ports Group announced that Karachi Gateway Terminal Multipurpose Limited (KGTML), part of the group’s ports operator Noatum Ports, and Louis Dreyfus Company Pakistan have signed a long-term commercial agreement to develop and operate a clean bulk handling and storage facility for agricultural goods at Karachi Port. 

KGTML is investing in the design and construction of an efficient food-grade terminal, complete with a handling system, conveyor line, infrastructure, and utilities. The facility will handle agricultural bulk cargo in line with international best practices, the partners said, reducing cargo handling time, improving logistics resilience, and ensuring product storage quality in accordance with international standards.

Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) has committed to sending a volume of agricultural commodities to the facility. 

The investment is in addition to the $75m previously committed by AD Ports Group during phase one of the KGTML project. The group committed to invest almost $300m in modernising its Karachi terminals upon the signing of long-term concessions for the bulk and container terminals in 2023.

KGTML will be one of the terminals to benefit from dredging work to be carried out in the first quarter of 2026 by Van Oord. The Dredging campaign will double capacity at KGTML to 120,000 tonnes.

Mohammed Al Tamimi, CEO of Noatum Ports, said: “As a key gateway for regional trade, KGTML plays a vital role in enhancing connectivity and driving efficiency across Pakistan’s maritime sector. This development will significantly upgrade the country’s logistics infrastructure, creating new opportunities for growth, and reinforcing Karachi Port’s position as a critical hub for international commerce. The agreement with LDC represents a significant strategic milestone in our partnership.”

Rubens Marques, LDC’s head of South and Southeast Asia, said: “This development reflects our long-term commitment to the country, where we have been operating for over 15 years, and our confidence in its growing role in global agricultural trade. The facility will be a key lever as we work to enhance our supply chain capabilities for the benefit of our business partners up- and downstream – in Pakistan, the region and beyond.”

AD Ports Group is also developing the KGTL container terminal at the Port of Karachi.