Port of Colombo Records 11.9% Growth in 1H 2026 Container Throughput Crossing 4.4 Million TEUs

Official statistics released by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) confirm that the Port of Colombo handled 4,444,034 TEUs during the first six months of 2026. This represents an 11.9% increase compared to the 3.97 million TEUs recorded during H1 2025. Transshipment remained the core growth driver, accounting for 84.7% of total volume (up 12.6%), while domestic import-export containers grew by 8.3%.

Colombo International Container Terminals (CICT) led terminal throughput, processing 1.64 million TEUs (37% of the total port volume). Additionally, vessel calls rose to 2,066 ships, boosted by a 24.4% surge in calls for value-added maritime services such as bunkering, ship repair, and ship chandling. SLPA Chairman Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake highlighted that ongoing terminal expansions and digital integration are positioning Colombo to enter the top 15 global container ports.

Source: https://www.ft.lk/front-page/Colombo-Port-records-11-9-growth-in-1H-container-throughput/44-795435