Adani Vizhinjam Port Company has secured preliminary approval from the Customs and Central Excise Department under the Union Finance Ministry to handle both export-import (EXIM) cargo and domestic trade at Vizhinjam Port. Final clearance from the Kochi Customs Commissionerate is expected soon, pending procedural formalities.
The approval paves the way for Vizhinjam to launch EXIM trade, positioning it as a new gateway for global connectivity. Major customs broking firms active at leading Indian ports are preparing to set up offices at Vizhinjam, while a dedicated customs office has already started functioning in the port’s utility building near the harbor.
Full-fledged domestic export operations, however, will begin only after the completion of road connectivity to the national highway. Work on widening service roads for container truck access is underway and targeted for completion by December 2025.
Meanwhile, the port plans to begin trial operations in October, using existing routes for limited domestic cargo movement. As part of the initial phase, feasibility tests for nighttime container movement via Mullur Road are being scheduled.
This milestone marks a crucial step toward establishing Vizhinjam as a world-class transshipment hub, enhancing India’s maritime trade capacity and logistics competitiveness.