INDIA —Funds managed by global investment firm KKR have agreed to secure a majority equity stake in Cisternina Logistics, an Indian operator specializing in bulk liquid and gas storage. This capital injection is structured to fuel a broad corporate expansion strategy, centered on the acquisition of the liquid storage terminal and rail operations belonging to Ganesh Benzoplast Limited as the platform's core asset.
Founded in 2024, Cisternina focuses on developing integrated logistics networks for the energy, chemical, and edible-oil sectors. Ganesh Benzoplast operates prominent terminal facilities at major strategic locations such as the Jawaharlal Nehru Port, Cochin, and Goa. The partnership intends to deploy both greenfield developments and further acquisitions to scale total static tank capacity significantly.
The transaction highlights ongoing institutional focus on coastal and bulk logistics infrastructure within developing trade markets. India handles nearly all its external trade volumes via coastal gateways, generating continuous long-term requirements for professional liquid handling facilities. Despite steady volume projections over the coming decade, the domestic terminal sector remains fragmented among a limited number of scaled multi-location operators.
For market participants and corporate investors, the entry of major private equity backing introduces higher governance standards and professionalized operating models into a historically fragmented space. The collaboration is positioned to address capacity bottlenecks across domestic supply chains while setting standardized benchmarks for safety and operational efficiency across strategic industrial ports.
