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Shares of billionaire Gautam Adani's Adani Ports And Economic Zone fell 4.5% on Monday, prompting investor wariness due to the possible escalation of the conflict in Israel. Adani Ports owns a major port in Israel.
Adani Ports Remains Vigilant in Light of Conflict in Israel
The company closely monitors the situation and has a well-prepared business continuity plan in place, according to Reuters, citing a company statement.
"We remain fully alert and prepared with a business continuity plan that will enable us to respond effectively to any eventuality," the statement reads. The contribution of Haifa port to Adani Ports' overall cargo volume is relatively small at 3%, the Times of India noted.
Adani Ports operates the Haifa Port in northern Israel, which it acquired for a total value of 4 billion shekels ($1.03 billion) in January. Haifa Port plays a significant role in Israel as it handles around 99% of all the country's imports and exports by sea. However, due to the ongoing conflict, investor concerns have intensified.
The latest escalation of the conflict between Hamas, a Palestinian Islamist group, and Israel has led to the largest military assault on Israel in decades, resulting in the deaths of several Israelis. This development has further raised doubts and apprehensions among investors, reflected in the downturn of Adani Ports' shares, which have decreased by 2.1% this year compared to the broader Nifty 50 index's gains of almost 8%.
Potential Impact on Adani Ports and Commodity Prices
"The next couple of months are going to be volatile for Adani Ports as the war has just started and will trade with a negative bias. Besides, it is not just Israel and Iran; commodity prices will also get impacted," stated Avinash Gorakshakar, head of research at Profitmart Securities. The situation in Israel and fluctuating commodity prices add to the uncertainty surrounding Adani Ports and its performance in the near future.
Earlier this year, Adani Ports completed the sale of its port in sanction-hit Myanmar, generating $30 million in proceeds. The sale price notably fell significantly below the initial investment made in the project. Simultaneously, other listed companies under the Adani Group experienced a decline in their share prices of 1-4% on Monday, signaling the broader impact of the conflict on the group's market performance.
Photo: Jerome Monta/Unsplash
