AD Ports Group announced on October 2 that it has completed the acquisition of Corredor Logística e Infraestrutura (CLI), Brazil's leading independent agri-bulk terminal operator, at an enterprise value of AED 3.1 billion (approximately USD 835 million). This is the largest M&A transaction since AD Ports was established, and also marks the UAE port giant's first entry into the South American market.

The transaction was previously announced on June 2, 2026, and financial closing took place in early October after obtaining all regulatory and antitrust approvals from Brazil's National Waterway Transportation Agency (ANTAQ) and the Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE). The sellers were funds managed by Macquarie Asset Management and Brazil's IG4 Capital.

CLI operates two key agri-bulk export terminals in Brazil, both held under long-term concession agreements. CLI Sul is located at the Port of Santos in São Paulo state and is Brazil's leading sugar export terminal, as well as a key export channel for corn and soybeans, with CLI holding an 80% stake. CLI Norte is located at the Port of Itaqui in Maranhão state and is an important grain export gateway in Brazil's "Northern Arc" region, with CLI holding a 100% stake. Ports and terminals in northern Brazil, where the Port of Itaqui is located, recorded the fastest growth in the country in 2025, highlighting the strategic role of the "Northern Arc" corridor in reshaping Brazil's logistics landscape.

Brazil is the world's largest sugar exporter and one of the world's leading exporters of soybeans and corn, and these two terminals serve as hubs connecting Brazil's major agricultural production regions with international markets.

AD Ports has made clear that the core strategic intent of this acquisition is to establish a new trade route connecting Brazil with Abu Dhabi's Khalifa Port and the Abu Dhabi Food Hub. Khalifa Port is located in the KEZAD economic zone, which is the largest food hub in the Middle East. Through this corridor, Brazilian agricultural products will enter the Middle East, South Asia, and Southeast Asia markets more efficiently.

Brazil is an important fulcrum in AD Ports' global expansion strategy. The group plans to build an east-west trade corridor linking South America's largest economy with the Indian subcontinent, East Africa, and Southeast Asia. The UAE is currently in in-depth negotiations with Mercosur on a trade agreement, and this policy backdrop provides additional strategic support for AD Ports' positioning in Brazil.

Following the completion of this acquisition, AD Ports' global portfolio of ports and terminals has expanded to 36, covering the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Central Asia, South Asia, and South America. Against the backdrop of ongoing regional conflicts and global supply chain disruptions, this Brazil deal marks a key move by AD Ports in planting the flag for its "smart internationalization" strategy in South America.