Adani Ports wants to acquire more, eyes southeast coast.

Adani Ports and SEZ, India's largest port operator, is seeking further acquisitions after taking over Dhamra port on the east coast recently. It's looking to buy a port on the southeast coast to strengthen its presence across the country, two people familiar with the matter told ET.

It is also in talks with several international port operators to sell a significant stake in its Hazira operations in Gujarat to free up cash and get assured shipping lines that will come with such partnership.

'Adani is rationalizing its port assets in India. They will use money from Hazira to buy something in the south,' said one of the people familiar with the matter. With a strong presence on the west coast with flagship Mundra port and on the east coast with the Rs. 5,500 crore Dhamra port, the company wants to extend its reach further south.

The ports at Krishnapatnam, Gangavaram and Machilipatnam are likely targets in Andhra Pradesh. In Tamil Nadu, Karaikal port could be a target.

ET