Port of Colombo experiences decline in January 2025.

The Port of Colombo started 2025 with a challenging performance as transshipment volumes declined due to persistent congestion, contrasting with the growth experienced in the previous year. In January 2025, transshipment volumes dropped by 6.5% YoY to 525,768 TEUs, a significant dip from the strong performance in early and late 2024. The decline was attributed to operational bottlenecks caused by increased Sri Lanka Customs inspections, which hampered the port’s efficiency despite the initial boost from the Red Sea Crisis diversions.

The total container throughput at the Port of Colombo also saw a decrease, reaching 657,728 TEUs in January 2025, a 4.8% YoY decline. The Colombo International Container Terminal (CICT) experienced a 10.9% drop in container handling, while the Jaya Container Terminal (JCT) and the partially operational East Container Terminal (ECT) saw a 13.7% decline. However, the South Asia Gateway Terminal (SAGT) bucked the trend with a 21.6% increase in cargo handling. The port is expected to see improvements as the first phase of the West Container Terminal (WCT) becomes operational, and the ECT is fully functional by the end of 2025.

Despite these challenges, the Port of Colombo handled 9,569,992 tonnes of cargo in January 2025, marking a 2.7% YoY decline. Containerized imports rose by 37.1%, reflecting a surge in domestic cargo handling. While break bulk cargo saw a notable 46.3% increase, driven by iron and steel imports, dry bulk cargo declined sharply by 50.9%. The port remains focused on capacity expansion and investments aimed at improving efficiency, including a Rs. 2.5 billion allocation in the budget to restore its position as a leading transshipment hub in the region.
Source: Daily Mirror