Colombo Port Congestion Persists as Gulf Diversions Stretch Berth Turnaround to Six Days

Cargo diversions from the Gulf region continue to place sustained pressure on the Port of Colombo’s deep-draft terminals, with vessel turnaround times stretching to an estimated six days at peak berths. Industry sources indicate that the congestion — driven by the concentration of rerouted volumes on a limited number of berths — is expected to persist for at least two more weeks before any meaningful easing materialises.

The extended dwell times carry direct implications for export shippers and 3PL operators managing time-sensitive supply chains through Colombo. Freight forwarders have reported scheduling disruptions and increased demurrage exposure, particularly on inbound East Asian services. Terminal operators and the SLPA are coordinating berth allocation adjustments and exploring priority handling for perishable and bonded cargo to mitigate the cascading delays across the port’s interconnected terminals.

Source: Daily Mirror – Colombo Port congestion seen persisting for two more weeks – September 8, 2026