Colombo Port Throughput Hits 3.7 Million TEUs, Outpacing Previous Volumes by 13.5%

 The Port of Colombo is firmly cementing its status as South Asia’s premier transshipment powerhouse. Consolidated operational statistics for the first five months of 2026 show the port handled a spectacular 3,702,265 TEUs, representing a clear 13.5% increase over the same timeframe last year. Notably, transshipment container throughput—which makes up roughly 84.5% of Colombo’s total volume—led the charge with a 14% jump.

This double-digit volume expansion proves that international shipping lines are leaning heavily on Colombo to navigate complex global trade lane realignments. However, handling 3.7 million TEUs also puts immense physical pressure on our local container terminals, carrier networks, and customs gates. To prevent these massive volumes from turning into major bottlenecks, port authorities and private 3PL networks must continuously fine-tune their yard-management and container-shunting workflows.

Source: Daily FT — Colombo Port records strong throughput; ship traffic in first five months – June 30, 2026