COLOMBO: The Port of Colombo has achieved a major milestone in the global container shipping industry, climbing from 26th place to 20th among the world’s leading container ports, according to the latest global container throughput rankings compiled by Alphaliner.
The Port handled 4,444,034 TEUs during the first half of 2026, compared with 3,972,053 TEUs during the corresponding period of 2025. This represents an increase of 471,981 TEUs, or 11.9% year-on-year, placing Colombo among the major ports recording significant growth in global container traffic.
The achievement marks a significant advancement for Sri Lanka’s maritime sector and further strengthens Colombo’s position as a strategic Indian Ocean transshipment hub. Transshipment accounted for approximately 84.7% of the port’s total container throughput during the first six months of 2026, with transshipment volumes growing 12.6% year-on-year. Domestic container volumes also recorded healthy growth of 8.3%.
The port’s performance was supported by continued activity across its container terminals. Colombo International Container Terminals (CICT) handled 1,642,647 TEUs during the first half of the year, representing around 37% of Colombo’s total container throughput. The port also recorded 2,066 vessel calls during the period, compared with 2,016 in the first half of 2025, reflecting a 2.5% increase in vessel arrivals.
The latest ranking follows a record performance in 2025, when the Port of Colombo handled approximately 8.3 million TEUs. The sustained growth highlights the port’s expanding role in facilitating international trade and connecting major shipping networks across East and South Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe.
Colombo’s rise has also taken place against a challenging global shipping backdrop, marked by geopolitical tensions, disruptions to established trade routes and changing shipping patterns. Against these conditions, the port’s double-digit growth demonstrates the resilience of its transshipment-led business model and its strategic importance to international liner and feeder networks.
Looking ahead, further investment in container handling capacity, logistics infrastructure and port development is expected to strengthen Colombo’s ability to accommodate growing cargo volumes. The Sri Lanka Ports Authority is pursuing development initiatives and potential investments of up to US$2 billion over the next one to three years, including expansion projects and public-private partnerships.
The move into the global Top 20 is therefore more than a rise in rankings—it represents an important milestone in Sri Lanka’s maritime ambitions. With continued investment, improved capacity and stronger connectivity, the Port of Colombo is positioning itself to become an even more efficient and competitive gateway for regional and global trade.
The achievement reinforces Colombo’s growing stature as a key maritime gateway in the Indian Ocean and underscores its potential to play an increasingly important role in the evolving global container shipping and logistics landscape.
