📈 Hambantota Port Clarifies Vehicle Storage Policy Amid RORO Growth

• Operational Overview: Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG) currently handles over 50,000 vehicles as roll-on/roll-off (RORO) volumes expand. HIPG emphasized that port operations focus on cargo throughput rather than generating storage revenue. • Legacy Vehicle Holdings: • Only 1,278 local import vehicles have stayed for over 3 months, while 581 have remained for over a year. • ~400 of the 581 long-term vehicles were imported before Sri Lanka resumed vehicle imports in 2025. • 175 vehicles date back to the pre-2020 import restriction period, and 178 predate HIPG assuming port management in December 2017. • Storage Terms & Concessions: • HIPG offers 10 days of free storage for local imports (fees apply from day 11) and 21 days for transshipment (fees apply from day 22), compared to 3 free days under previous management. • Delays stem from external banking, documentation, and financing issues. • HIPG granted substantial demurrage waivers and applied storage caps during regional Gulf trade disruptions to protect customers. • National Context: HIPG is coordinating with Sri Lanka Customs and importers to resolve legacy cases, ensuring yard capacity for Sri Lanka's growing automotive logistics and maritime & trade sectors.