Port of Colombo sees strong growth as CWIT hits full capacity in first year

The Port of Colombo is experiencing strong growth in mid-2026, with almost the entire port operating at near full utilisation, while the Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT) has reached full capacity utilisation within its first year of operations, JKH Chairperson Krishan Balendra said recently at the JKH Investor Webinar.

Balendra said the Colombo Port is seeing robust performance in mid-2026, with almost the entire port running at near full utilisation and CWIT, which commenced operations in April last year, now at full capacity and expected to expand further. He added that even the port’s bunkering businesses have benefited from the upturn in volumes and activity.

Commenting on port performance, JKH Deputy Chairperson and Group Finance Director Gihan Cooray said Port City is expected to grow further as CWIT has ramped up to around 460,000 TEUs, against an installed capacity of about 1.6 million TEUs for Phase 1.

Cooray said overall volumes at the Port of Colombo have remained steady, with growth driven by the additional capacity introduced by the West Container Terminal, representing capacity-led growth. Domestic cargo movement has increased from around 10% to 13% during this period.

According to a report released by CWIT, transshipment volumes have also increased, with 3.7 million TEUs handled during the first five months. Cooray said the added capacity at the Port of Colombo, combined with this growth, has strengthened the city’s position as a transshipment hub. He noted that despite disruptions to trade patterns caused by the Middle East conflict, the growth is not considered a temporary benefit but reflects more permanent demand coming through.

According to the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), the port has maintained strong double-digit growth, recording 2,915,004 TEUs for the first four months of 2026, a 13.9% increase over 2,559,847 TEUs handled in the same period of 2025. The port is on track to cross 10 million TEUs in deep-water handling capacity as new terminal operations ramp up by the end of 2026.

The CWIT report adds that the Port of Colombo is ready for further capacity improvements, enhancing operational efficiency and increasing support for green cargo handling operations. As Phase 2 progresses, expected by the end of 2026, the terminal will continue to strengthen the port’s capabilities, reinforce Sri Lanka’s position as a regional maritime and logistics hub, and support the country’s long-term economic growth through world-class port infrastructure.