🚢 Colombo Port Throughput Up 6.7% in Nine Months

• Colombo Port handled nearly 6.2 Million TEUs in the first nine months of 2025 (Jan-Sept), marking a 6.7% Year-on-Year (YoY) increase from the previous year. • Key Segments (9M YoY Growth): • Transhipment: Grew 4.8% to 4.94 Mn TEUs, constituting nearly 80% of total volume. • Domestic Handling: Increased 13.6%. • Re-stowing Operations: Posted the strongest gain, rising 20% YoY. • September Performance: Total throughput surged 14.4% YoY, though volumes were broadly flat (+0.13%) compared to August. Vessel calls across all SL ports grew 12.6% YoY (to 3,792 ships) in the nine-month period. • Industry Concern: Exporters warn that recurring vessel omissions are causing significant disruptions, leading to raw material shortages and missed deadlines for critical sectors like apparel & textiles, rubber, and electronics. • Future Focus: The Government plans to strengthen port logistics via the expansion of capacity (WCT Phase II), establishing new trade-facilitation infrastructure, and scaling up digitalisation/automation initiatives, including the Port Community System.