Abu Dhabi-based AD Ports Group has signed a framework agreement with Romania’s National Company Maritime Ports Administration to explore investment opportunities at the Port of Constanța, marking its entry into the Black Sea market.
The agreement opens the door for AD Ports to invest in port infrastructure, digital systems, and sustainability initiatives at Constanța, the largest port in the Black Sea. In 2025, the port handled approximately 88 million tonnes of cargo and around 1 million TEU, confirming its role as a key logistics hub linking maritime routes with inland transport networks across Central and Eastern Europe via the Danube corridor.
Constanța’s strategic location at the junction of sea, rail, road, and river routes makes it a critical gateway for agricultural exports, particularly grain flows from Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
The expansion aligns with AD Ports’ broader strategy to develop the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, also known as the Middle Corridor, connecting China to Europe through Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.
In recent years, the company has strengthened its presence along this corridor through multiple projects, including a joint venture with Kazakhstan Railways’ KTZ Express, development of a grain terminal at Kuryk Port on the Caspian Sea, and the launch of an intermodal logistics hub in Tbilisi.
By adding Constanța to its network, AD Ports significantly increases its influence over Eurasian trade flows, positioning itself as a key player in alternative supply chains linking Asia and Europe.
