AD Ports Group Acquires Brazil's CLI for $835 Million
Posted On: 6/3/2026, 5:40:27 PM
Last Update: 6/3/2026, 5:40:27 PM
AD Ports Group will acquire Corredor Logística e Infraestrutura (CLI), Brazil's top agri-bulk port terminal operator, for Dhs 3.1 billion ($835 million). This marks AD Ports Group's first acquisition in Latin America and its largest to date.
The Abu Dhabi-listed ports and logistics group will acquire CLI from Macquarie Asset Management and IG4 Capital, enhancing its presence in the agricultural commodities supply chain.
The deal, which is expected to close in H2 2026 pending regulatory approval, will give AD Ports Group ownership of a platform that handled 17 million tonnes of cargo in 2025, generating $178 million in revenue and $98 million in EBITDA.
AD Ports Group Acquires Brazil Agri-Bulk to Enter Latin America
CLI, based in São Paulo, operates two major agri-bulk export terminals: CLI Sul at the Port of Santos, Brazil's main sugar export terminal, and CLI Norte at the Port of Itaqui, crucial for grains.
Notably, CLI owns 100% of CLI Norte and 80% of CLI Sul. This acquisition places AD Ports Group among South America's top independent agri-bulk terminal operators, enhancing access to various opportunities across maritime, shipping, logistics, economic cities, and digital services.
Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, MD and group CEO of AD Ports Group, highlighted that the acquisition of CLI significantly enhances the Group's international scope by entering the Latin American market. This move supports the Group's agrifoods sector, fostering trade in a rapidly growing agricultural commodities market, benefiting global clients and strengthening the Group's network.
Brazil is the largest sugar exporter globally and a significant grain exporter, with the ports of Santos and Itaqui playing vital roles in connecting agricultural regions to international markets.
The East-West Trading Route
AD Ports Group announced that Brazil will aid its initiative to create an East-West trade corridor connecting South America with the Indian subcontinent, East Africa, and Southeast Asia.
This development coincides with the UAE's negotiations with Mercosur regarding a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. Following the transaction, CLI’s current senior management team will stay in position.
Fernando Lohmann, head of Macquarie Asset Management in Brazil, noted the resilience of the country’s agricultural export sector, highlighting its importance in global commodity markets. He emphasised Macquarie’s commitment to being a responsible custodian of infrastructure assets that enhance economic development and connectivity and expressed confidence that AD Ports Group is well-suited to support CLI's growth phase.
Likewise, Paulo Todescan L Mattos, co-founder and CEO of IG4 Capital, expressed confidence in AD Ports Group as a strategic owner for CLI's growth, highlighting its global trade expertise, infrastructure capabilities, and long-term vision.
A Major Acquisition
The transaction is AD Ports Group's largest, exceeding its Dhs 2.65 billion ($720 million) purchase of Spain's Noatum in 2023 and its Dhs 1.9 billion ($510 million) purchase of a 51% interest in Dubai-based Global Feeder Shipping in 2024.
Furthermore, the transaction promotes the group's plan to diversify its agrifood logistics business. A $30 million investment in Kazakhstan's Sarzha Grain Terminal, a 30-year concession to run Jordan's Aqaba multipurpose port, and a long-term agricultural bulk processing facility at Pakistan's Karachi Port are examples of recent investments.
BTG Pactual advised AD Ports Group on the deal, and Citi advised Macquarie Asset Management and IG4 Capital. Meanwhile, AD Ports is experiencing growth with a total portfolio of 34 ports and terminals globally.
