AD Ports Group Purchases Brazil’s CLI for AED3.1bn

AD Ports Group has successfully acquired Corredor Logística e Infraestrutura (CLI), Brazil’s leading independent agribulk terminal operator, in a deal valued at AED3.1 billion (USD 835 million). This acquisition marks AD Ports Group’s entry into the South American market and stands as its largest acquisition to date.

The agreement was signed with CLI’s current shareholders, Macquarie Asset Management and IG4 Capital. The deal is anticipated to be completed in the latter half of the year, pending standard regulatory and antitrust approvals.

Strategic Expansion into Brazil

CLI oversees two significant agri-bulk export terminals in Brazil under long-term concessions.

The first, CLI Sul, is based at the Port of Santos and is the leading sugar export terminal in Brazil, also serving as a crucial hub for corn and soybean exports. The second, CLI Norte, operates from the Port of Itaqui and is vital for grain exports from Brazil’s growing agricultural region, the "Arc of the North."

The Arc of the North is recognized as one of Brazil’s key logistics corridors, showing the fastest development among the country’s ports and terminals by 2025.

With this acquisition, AD Ports Group now owns 100 percent of CLI Norte and an 80 percent stake in CLI Sul.

Bolstering Global Agri-Bulk Operations

The acquisition significantly enhances AD Ports Group’s standing in the global agricultural commodities arena. Brazil is the world’s top sugar exporter and a leading exporter of grains, including soybeans and corn.

In 2025, CLI managed roughly 17 million tonnes of agri-bulk cargo, generating AED654 million (USD 178 million) in revenue and AED360 million (USD 98 million) in EBITDA for that year.

The terminals at Santos and Itaqui are essential for linking Brazil’s agricultural regions with international markets.

Leadership Insights

Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and Group CEO of AD Ports Group, described the acquisition as a transformative opportunity for the company.

He emphasized that this deal broadens AD Ports Group's international reach into Latin America and bolsters its agrifood sector. The acquisition aids in the group’s strategy to facilitate global trade and improve connectivity in key agricultural markets.

AD Ports Group indicated that the presence in Brazil will also foster plans for a major East-West trade corridor linking South America with the Indian Subcontinent, East Africa, and Southeast Asia.

Continuity in Leadership

As part of the transaction, CLI’s existing senior management will remain in their roles to ensure continued oversight of operations and future growth strategies.

Fernando Lohmann, Head of Macquarie Asset Management in Brazil, noted that Brazil’s agricultural export sector remains resilient and contributes significantly to global food supply chains.

Paulo Todescan L. Mattos, Co-Founder and CEO of IG4 Capital, stated that the firm has been focused on enhancing CLI’s operational abilities and expanding its strategic footprint, noting AD Ports Group's suitable positioning for the next growth phase.

Part of a Broader Global Strategy

The acquisition corresponds with AD Ports Group’s ongoing goal of expanding its global agrifood and logistics operations.

Recent investments have included developing a grain terminal in Kazakhstan, establishing a long-term agricultural storage facility at Karachi Port in Pakistan, and a 30-year concession to operate the Aqaba multipurpose port in Jordan.

This acquisition surpasses previous major deals by AD Ports Group, including the AED2.65 billion acquisition of Spain’s Noatum in 2023 and the AED1.9 billion acquisition of a 51 percent stake in Global Feeder Shipping in 2024.

With the addition of CLI, AD Ports Group cements its role as a key global ports and logistics operator while positioning itself in a critical agricultural export market.