Colombo, Jan 3: Sri Lanka’s main maritime gateway, the Port of Colombo, posted its highest-ever container throughput in 2025, handling more than 8.29 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), according to data released by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA).
The latest figures show a 6.4 percent increase over the previous year, consolidating Colombo’s status as South Asia’s largest transhipment hub at a time when global shipping volumes remain uneven amid shifting trade patterns.
Port officials attributed the performance to steady operational efficiency and renewed confidence among international shipping lines. The SLPA said disciplined capital investment and stable terminal operations helped the port maintain growth despite disruptions in global freight networks.
A key contributor to the expansion was the Colombo West International Terminal, which began operations last year. The deep-water facility has increased the port’s capacity to accommodate ultra-large container vessels, easing congestion and improving turnaround times across the harbour.
Growth during the year was not limited to transhipment traffic alone. Domestic container volumes recorded a sharp rise, pointing to improving activity within the local economy, while transhipment cargo — Colombo’s core business — continued to expand at a steady pace.
The SLPA noted that the milestone was achieved through coordinated operations across both state-owned terminals and private operators, highlighting Colombo’s mixed-ownership port model as a competitive advantage in the region.
Looking ahead, port authorities said Colombo is on track to exceed 10 million TEUs by 2026, positioning the harbour as a central node in South Asia’s logistics network. The SLPA added that the port’s performance is closely linked to Sri Lanka’s broader economic outlook, with long-term plans aimed at strengthening the country’s role in regional supply chains.
