The Port of Colombo’s transshipment volumes dropped by 5.8 percent year-on-year in April 2025, totaling 495,456 TEUs, marking the fourth consecutive month of slowdown in this key segment. The cumulative transshipment volume for the first four months of 2025 declined by 6.2 percent to 2.03 million TEUs compared to the same period last year.
This downturn is attributed to operational disruptions caused by adverse weather, which have resulted in significant berthing delays — with Colombo International Container Terminal (CICT) reportedly facing delays of 3 to 4 days — and the scheduled closure of the East Container Terminal (ECT) from June 5 to June 19. Stakeholders have expressed concern over a lack of transparent communication from port authorities on measures to mitigate these disruptions, creating uncertainty among shipping lines.
Overall container throughput at the Port of Colombo saw a slight 0.5 percent year-on-year decline in April, handling 623,719 TEUs. From January to April 2025, total throughput stood at 2.56 million TEUs, down 2.9 percent compared to the same period in 2024. Transshipment’s share of total throughput decreased to 79 percent in April 2025 from 84 percent a year earlier.
Among terminals, the Sri Lanka Ports Authority-managed Jaya, Unity, and partially operational East Container Terminals collectively handled 802,163 TEUs in the first four months, down 4.2 percent year-on-year. CICT processed 1.09 million TEUs cumulatively, a 6.4 percent decline, though April saw a 4.5 percent increase to 280,580 TEUs. The South Asia Gateway Terminal (SAGT) recorded a 2.7 percent increase for the four-month period but a sharp 14.6 percent drop in April volumes.
Ship arrivals declined by 1.6 percent year-on-year for January-April 2025 but increased by 2.9 percent in April alone, with container vessel calls following a similar pattern.
Despite the slowdown in transshipment, import and export container volumes showed strong growth in April 2025. Imports surged 20.6 percent to nearly 50,000 TEUs, driven by a 28 percent increase in laden imports. Export container volumes rose by 18.7 percent in April. Re-stowing volumes jumped 56.8 percent for the month but were down 6.9 percent cumulatively.
Meanwhile, competing Indian ports, particularly those operated by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ), have demonstrated robust growth. APSEZ reported a 7 percent increase in cargo volume for FY25, with container handling up 20 percent. Mundra Port crossed 200 million metric tonnes in cargo throughput, and the new Vizhinjam Port in Kerala quickly scaled operations, handling over 100,000 TEUs in a single month within four months of opening.
The Port of Colombo faces a challenging immediate outlook due to ongoing weather disruptions, the upcoming ECT closure, and a persistent decline in transshipment volumes as regional competition intensifies.
