Hambantota Port Container Volumes Surge 705% in 2025, Capacity Expansion Underway

By Admin

12 Jan, 2026

Sri Lanka’s China-backed Hambantota Port has emerged as one of the fastest-growing ports in South Asia, recording a staggering 705 percent jump in container throughput in 2025. The port handled 428,036 TEUs during the year, a dramatic rise that highlights its rapid transformation into a major regional maritime hub.

A remarkable turnaround in container operations
Hambantota’s container journey is still in its early stages. After formally entering the container business in 2023 with just 44 containers handled, the port has scaled up at unprecedented speed. According to Hambantota International Port Group, this growth has been driven by targeted investments in infrastructure, equipment, and operational capabilities.

Container cargo volumes reached 5.43 million tonnes in 2025, compared to just 657,504 tonnes in 2024. The port described this performance as evidence of its rapid emergence as a significant container gateway within a single year.

Major capacity expansion underway
Hambantota Port is now preparing for its next phase of expansion. Scheduled for completion by the end of 2026, Phase II development will increase annual container handling capacity to around 2 million TEUs. This expansion will include four dedicated container berths and the addition of six quay cranes and sixteen rubber-tyred gantry cranes.

In 2024 alone, the port invested 41 million US dollars to strengthen its container-handling capabilities. This included the installation of four new quay cranes and 13 RTGs, supplementing the existing fleet of two quay cranes and three RTGs. As a result, installed capacity has already reached approximately one million TEUs.

Growth across multiple cargo segments
The surge in containers was part of a broader expansion across cargo categories. Total cargo volumes at Hambantota Port reached 8.24 million metric tonnes in 2025, representing a 175 percent increase from 3.0 million metric tonnes in 2024.

Bulk and break-bulk cargo volumes rose 32 percent to 1.18 million metric tonnes, while oil and gas volumes remained relatively stable at 661,131 metric tonnes amid softer global energy market conditions.

Hambantota also strengthened its position as a regional vehicle transshipment hub. RORO vehicle volumes climbed 25 percent to 726,153 units in 2025, supported by Sri Lanka’s decision to reopen vehicle imports after a ban imposed in 2020 during the country’s macroeconomic crisis.

Leadership perspective amid global disruption
Commenting on the performance, Wilson Qu, Chief Executive Officer of Hambantota International Port Group, said that 2025 was a challenging year for ports globally. He noted that the scale of growth achieved at Hambantota was particularly notable given ongoing global trade disruptions.

He attributed the strong results to growing customer confidence, operational flexibility, aggressive domestic and international marketing strategies, and the commitment of the port’s workforce.

Colombo Port and regional competition
While Hambantota’s growth has been exceptional, Sri Lanka’s main gateway, Colombo Port, was targeting container volumes of 8.2 million TEUs in 2025. Colombo’s performance has been supported by Red Sea shipping disruptions and the addition of a new terminal developed by Adani Group in partnership with John Keells Holdings.

A rising player in South Asian maritime trade
With container volumes rising sharply and a clear roadmap to reach 2 million TEUs by 2026, Hambantota Port is positioning itself as a key alternative gateway in the Indian Ocean region. Backed by its joint venture structure involving the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and China Merchants Port Holdings, the port’s rapid scale-up signals a significant shift in Sri Lanka’s maritime landscape and regional trade dynamics.