The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) said that 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% 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. The SLPA said 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 SLPA said 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, a 13.9% increase over the corresponding period in 2025.
The Sri Lanka Ports Authority said Colombo is entering an important new phase in its maritime development, with the latest international figures reflecting the confidence of the global shipping community in Colombo and its role within international trade networks. The Authority said its responsibility is to ensure the port continues to provide the capacity, efficiency, reliability and connectivity required to serve the evolving needs of shipping lines and regional economies.
The SLPA said the expansion of capacity is an essential part of its long-term maritime development strategy, and as container volumes continue to grow, infrastructure development must progress in parallel with improvements in productivity, technology and operational coordination. Its 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 said it 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. It said that 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.
The SLPA said growth in maritime infrastructure across the region creates significant opportunities for trade, investment and connectivity, and that 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. The Authority said Colombo’s latest performance therefore represents more than a rise in the global rankings, reflecting the continuing transformation of the port into a larger, more capable and increasingly important international maritime and logistics hub.
