Colombo Port transhipment growth accelerates as CWIT ramps up operations, with the latest figures showing strong gains in container volumes as the country’s largest maritime gateway continues to strengthen its position as South Asia’s leading transhipment hub.
Colombo Port transhipment growth accelerates as CWIT ramps up operations with record container volumes
The Port of Colombo delivered another robust performance in April 2026, driven by a sharp increase in transhipment activity and the rapid expansion of the Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT). The latest operational data highlights growing demand for Sri Lanka’s port services while reinforcing the country’s strategic role in regional and global shipping networks.
Container transhipment volumes climbed 22.6 percent year-on-year to 607,240 Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in April, compared with 495,456 TEUs handled during the corresponding month in 2025. For the first four months of 2026, cumulative transhipment throughput reached 2,321,704 TEUs, representing a healthy 14.2 percent increase over the same period last year.
The continued expansion follows a record-breaking performance in 2025, when the Port of Colombo handled an all-time high of 8.29 million TEUs, further cementing its status as the premier South Asia transhipment hub. Overall container throughput also posted strong growth, increasing 22.0 percent year-on-year to 761,096 TEUs during April.
A major contributor to this impressive momentum has been the rapid scaling of the Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT). Developed under a 35-year Build, Operate and Transfer agreement involving Adani Ports, John Keells Holdings and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), the US$800 million terminal commenced commercial operations in April 2025.
As Colombo’s first fully automated deep-water container terminal, CWIT has significantly expanded handling capacity while easing congestion that had constrained operations at existing terminals in recent years.
The terminal handled 152,262 TEUs during April 2026, an extraordinary 1,124.2 percent increase compared with the 12,438 TEUs processed during its first month of operations in April 2025. On a cumulative basis, CWIT handled 502,066 TEUs during the first four months of 2026, reflecting a remarkable 3,039.9 percent growth over the same period last year.
As new cargo shifts towards the modern terminal, traffic distribution across Colombo’s existing facilities has also evolved. The Sri Lanka Ports Authority-operated terminals—Jaya Container Terminal (JCT), Unity Container Terminal (UCT) and East Container Terminal (ECT)—recorded a marginal decline of 0.5 percent in April, handling 180,952 TEUs, compared with 181,934 TEUs a year earlier.
Meanwhile, Colombo International Container Terminals (CICT) remained the port’s largest individual terminal operator by throughput, handling 273,417 TEUs during April despite a modest 2.6 percent year-on-year decline.
South Asia Gateway Terminals (SAGT) recorded a more encouraging performance, with container volumes increasing 3.8 percent to 154,465 TEUs, indicating a gradual recovery in throughput.
Beyond transhipment, domestic cargo activity also reflected positive economic momentum. Sri Lanka port throughput received additional support from rising import volumes, which increased 27 percent to 59,287 TEUs in April from 46,677 TEUs a year earlier. Cumulative imports for the first four months reached 219,227 TEUs, up 9.7 percent compared with the same period in 2025.
Export container volumes also remained resilient. Shipments increased 2.6 percent year-on-year to 23,348 TEUs in April, while cumulative exports reached 100,527 TEUs, representing a 3.4 percent increase over the corresponding period last year.
To support future demand, the Sri Lanka Ports Authority has announced an ambitious investment programme worth up to US$2 billion aimed at expanding the port’s long-term capacity. With current handling capacity standing at around 10 million TEUs and annual demand already approaching 9.3 million TEUs, authorities have highlighted the urgent need to avoid congestion and costly vessel waiting times.
Future expansion phases at CWIT, together with the continued development of the East Container Terminal, are expected to increase Colombo’s total handling capacity to approximately 14 million TEUs over the coming years. These investments are expected to reinforce Colombo’s competitiveness as global shipping routes continue to evolve.
Reflecting the broader strength of maritime activity, total cargo handled across the port complex reached 10.5 million tonnes during April, marking a 9.5 percent year-on-year increase. As Colombo Port transhipment growth accelerates as CWIT ramps up operations, Sri Lanka’s maritime sector appears well positioned to capitalise on expanding regional trade and strengthen its role as one of Asia’s most important logistics gateways.