The Port of Colombo has climbed to 20th place in the world’s busiest container port rankings at the halfway point of 2026, rising six places from 26th at the end of last year after recording one of the fastest growth rates among major global ports.
According to Alphaliner’s mid-2026 top-30 container port table, Colombo’s rise comes alongside an 11.9 percent increase in container throughput during the first six months of the year.
Central Bank data show the port handled 4,444,034 TEUs between January and June 2026, up from 3,972,053 TEUs during the same period last year. The increase was driven largely by transshipment cargo, which accounted for 84.7 percent of total container volumes and expanded 12.6 percent year-on-year, while domestic container traffic grew 8.3 percent.
Colombo International Container Terminals remained the port’s largest operator, handling 1,642,647 TEUs, or around 37 percent of total throughput during the period.
The port also recorded stronger vessel traffic. A total of 2,066 vessels called during the first half, up 2.5 percent from a year earlier. Break-bulk arrivals rose 55.6 percent, while calls linked to bunkering, ship repair and other value-added maritime services increased 24.4 percent, pointing to broader activity beyond container handling alone.
Colombo’s performance stands out even among nearby competitors. India’s Nhava Sheva recorded slightly faster growth of 13.6 percent, climbing from 28th to 21st, while Mundra slipped from 24th to 26th despite posting modest growth.
Part of Colombo’s climb also reflects changes elsewhere in the global shipping network.
The disruption around the Strait of Hormuz reshaped regional rankings after Jebel Ali, the Middle East’s largest container port, reportedly suffered a dramatic collapse in second-quarter volumes, pushing it from 10th to 32nd. Abu Dhabi’s Khalifa Port also dropped out of the top 50, creating room for faster-growing ports lower down the table.
Sri Lanka Ports Authority Chairman Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake said the sustained growth reflected continued confidence from global shipping lines, adding that the authority remained focused on improving efficiency, reliability and sustainability.
Private-sector investment has also contributed to the expansion. John Keells Holdings, together with Adani Ports, said the Colombo West International Terminal reached full capacity utilisation within its first year of operation, adding new handling capacity as volumes continued to rise.
Despite the momentum, the numbers suggest that Colombo’s longer-term ambition of breaking into the world’s top 15 remains a multi-year challenge.
The port handled 8.3 million TEUs during 2025, compared with roughly 12.5 million TEUs for 15th-ranked Xiamen. Even 19th-placed Ho Chi Minh City maintains a lead of around 600,000 TEUs on current annual volumes.
If Colombo sustains its present growth rate through the remainder of the year, it could finish 2026 close to 9.3 million TEUs—enough to strengthen its challenge for 19th place, but still well short of the volumes needed to enter the global top 15 before year-end.