Colombo Port records historic high of 8.29mn TEUs in 2025

• Throughput grows 6.4% to record 8.29mn TEUs; domestic volumes up 14%
• New terminal capacity drives momentum; eyes 10mn TEUs in 2026

By Nishel Fernando

The Port of Colombo reached a defining milestone in 2025, recording a throughput of 8,291,178 TEUs, the highest volume ever handled in its history.

This performance marks a robust growth of 6.4 percent, compared to the 7,792,069 TEUs processed in 2024, cementing Colombo’s standing as the top transhipment hub in South Asia.

The record-breaking year underscores the port’s operational resilience and sustained confidence of global shipping lines. 

In an official statement, the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) noted that the year-on-year increase “reflects disciplined investment, operational resilience and sustained confidence from global shipping lines at a time when international trade conditions remain uneven and freight networks continue to recalibrate”.

A significant driver of this expansion was the commencement of operations at Colombo West International Terminal, developed by the Adani group and John Keells Holdings. The addition of this deep-water capacity last year provided a critical boost to the port’s ability to handle ultra-large container vessels, complementing the existing throughput from the SLPA-controlled terminals and private operators including Colombo International Container Terminals and South Asia Gateway Terminals.

The data from the first 10 months of 2025 indicates that this growth was broad-based. Domestic container handling expanded by nearly 14 percent during this period, while transshipment volumes, the port’s core business, grew by over 5 percent. This positive trajectory suggests a recovery in the local economy alongside the steady regional trade flows.

The SLPA highlighted that this historic throughput was achieved through the collaborative efforts of both state-owned and private terminals. As a state-owned enterprise, the SLPA emphasised its own financial efficiency and competitive operational standards amidst intense regional competition. The SLPA views this achievement as a precursor to even greater milestones, projecting that the Port of Colombo will surpass the 10 million TEU mark in 2026.

Looking ahead, the SLPA stressed that the port acts as a bellwether for the broader Sri Lankan economy. Just as ports have anchored the economic success of nations like Singapore, the SLPA is bullish on the Port of Colombo being poised to steer Sri Lanka’s economic trajectory toward a new direction. With a fresh business plan focused on transforming the island into a central logistics hub for South Asia, the port’s continued expansion is expected to catalyse massive growth in the country’s service supply chains.