The Port of Colombo has climbed to 20th place among the world’s major container ports, recording strong growth in the first half of 2026, according to the latest Alphaliner figures cited by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA).
Colombo handled 4,444,034 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) during the first six months of 2026, up 11.9 per cent from the 3,972,053 TEUs recorded during the corresponding period last year.
The increase amounts to 471,981 TEUs, marking one of the more significant upward movements among major container ports globally.
The latest performance has lifted Colombo from 26th place at the end of 2025 to 20th in the first half of 2026.
The growth follows a record year in 2025, when the port handled approximately 8.3 million TEUs.
The SLPA said the continued increase in container volumes further strengthens Colombo’s position as a major Indian Ocean transshipment hub.
Transshipment accounts for the overwhelming majority of Colombo’s container throughput, linking the port with international mainline and feeder networks serving East Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe.
Earlier figures had also indicated strong momentum, with Colombo handling 2.915 million TEUs between January and April 2026, representing a 13.9 per cent increase compared with the same period in 2025.
The SLPA said the latest figures demonstrate continued confidence among the global shipping community in Colombo and underline the port’s growing role in international trade networks.
With container volumes continuing to rise, the Authority said expanding capacity will remain central to its long-term maritime development strategy.
It stressed that infrastructure expansion will need to be accompanied by improvements in productivity, technology and operational coordination to ensure the port can meet the evolving requirements of shipping lines and regional economies.
The SLPA 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.
These investments are expected to include expansion projects and public-private partnerships.
The Authority said developments in maritime infrastructure across other major ports in the northern Indian Ocean should also be viewed as an opportunity for Sri Lanka to strengthen regional connectivity and cooperation.
According to the SLPA, increasing investment in the region could create opportunities for trade, investment and connectivity while supporting Colombo’s development as a modern maritime centre.
The Authority said its focus remains on ensuring that Colombo provides the capacity, efficiency, reliability and connectivity required by international shipping and the wider regional economy.
The latest ranking, it added, represents more than an improvement in global standing, reflecting Colombo’s continued transformation into a larger, more capable and increasingly important international maritime and logistics hub.
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