Colombo’s container boom propels Sri Lanka’s premier port into the world’s top 20, as volumes surge nearly 12 per cent in six months.

The Port of Colombo has strengthened its position as one of the world’s fastest-growing major container hubs, handling 4.44 million TEUs in the first half of 2026, an 11.9 per cent year-on-year increase, according to the latest Alphaliner figures. The performance has lifted Colombo from 26th place globally at the end of 2025 to 20th in the first half of 2026, marking one of the most notable upward movements among the world’s major container ports.

Colombo handled 4,444,034 TEUs during the first six months of 2026, compared with 3,972,053 TEUs in the corresponding period of 2025, an increase of 471,981 TEUs. Colombo’s latest performance follows a record year in 2025, when the port handled approximately 8.3 million TEUs.

The sustained growth strengthens Colombo’s importance as a major Indian Ocean transshipment hub. With transshipment accounting for the overwhelming majority of the port’s container throughput, the latest figures reflect Colombo’s expanding integration with international mainline and feeder networks connecting East Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe. Earlier figures also indicated strong momentum, with Colombo handling 2.915 million TEUs between January and April 2026, representing a 13.9 per cent increase over the corresponding period in 2025.

The Sri Lanka Ports Authority believes that Colombo is entering an important new phase in its maritime development. The latest international figures reflect the confidence of the global shipping community in Colombo and its role within international trade networks. Our responsibility is to ensure that the port continues to provide the capacity, efficiency, reliability and connectivity required to serve the evolving needs of shipping lines and regional economies.

The expansion of capacity is an essential part of our long-term maritime development strategy. As container volumes continue to grow, infrastructure development must progress in parallel with improvements in productivity, technology and operational coordination. Our objective is to ensure that Colombo remains a dependable and efficient maritime gateway for Sri Lanka, the region and international shipping.

The Sri Lanka Ports Authority is also pursuing further investment in container handling and logistics infrastructure, with potential investments of up to US$2 billion over the next one to three years, including expansion projects and public-private partnerships. With major ports across the northern Indian Ocean also investing in new infrastructure, Sri Lanka sees the changing regional maritime environment as an opportunity to deepen connectivity and cooperation.

Growth in maritime infrastructure across the region creates significant opportunities for trade, investment and connectivity. Sri Lanka welcomes this development and remains committed to strengthening Colombo as a reliable, modern and well-connected maritime centre serving the wider Indian Ocean and the global trading community.

Colombo’s latest performance therefore represents more than a rise in the global rankings. It reflects the continuing transformation of the port into a larger, more capable and increasingly important international maritime and logistics hub.