FINANCIAL CHRONICLE – Hambantota International Port (HIP), developed by Chinese interests, has achieved a significant milestone by surpassing one million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in cumulative container traffic since the introduction of new quay cranes in 2025. This accomplishment comes as the port in Sri Lanka ramps up its investments aimed at boosting its annual handling capacity to two million TEUs.
In 2025, the port processed 428,036 TEUs, followed by an additional 574,196 TEUs in 2026, resulting in a total throughput of 1,002,232 TEUs over this two-year span, according to HIP. This achievement underscores the increasing trust that shipping companies and cargo stakeholders have in the port’s operations, as noted by HIPG’s Chief Executive Officer, Wilson Qu.
“Reaching the one million TEU mark is a significant milestone for HIP and a testament to the confidence our customers have in our services,” Qu stated. “Our growth in container traffic is attributed to our strong collaboration with shipping lines, consistent operational reliability, and our agility in adapting to customer needs.”
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The Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), HIP’s primary container client, has been instrumental in enhancing volumes, enabling the port to set multiple operational records this year. In April, the MSC Marie Leslie established a new record for a single vessel at Hambantota with 7,968 container moves, which is equivalent to 13,260 TEUs during its visit, surpassing previous records held by MSC Ilenia and MSC Ruby from March.
In June, HIP achieved its highest monthly container throughput, managing 80,325 TEUs, as global trade routes faced disruptions and uncertainties. To meet the growing demand, the port is undertaking a significant expansion initiative that includes enhancements to berth capacity, yard space, reefer facilities, and container-handling machinery.
A key aspect of this expansion is a $108 million investment in six new quay cranes and 16 rubber-tyred gantry cranes, anticipated to be operational by February 2027. The new equipment will enhance ship-to-shore and yard-handling capacities, improve vessel turnaround times, and allow for an additional 1,300 meters of berth space. This development will extend HIP’s total container quay length to nearly two kilometers and increase its container yard capacity by 30 percent.
Tommy Yang, Chief Operations Officer at HIP, emphasized that these investments are aimed at fostering future growth while ensuring operational efficiency. “The achievement of one million TEUs indicates that HIP’s container operations are entering a new phase of expansion,” Yang remarked. “Our investment strategy is centered on enhancing capacity in anticipation of demand while ensuring operational efficiency and financial viability.”
The port indicated that these upgrades will provide the necessary scale to reach its long-term objective of handling two million TEUs annually, solidifying Hambantota’s status as an emerging regional container hub. (Colombo/Oct4/2026)
