Hambantota International Port (HIP) has surpassed one million TEUs in cumulative container throughput since the commissioning of its new quay cranes in 2025, marking a major milestone in the rapid expansion of its container-handling operations.
The port handled 428,036 TEUs in 2025, followed by a further 574,196 TEUs in 2026 to date, taking the combined volume to 1,002,232 TEUs. The achievement reflects growing demand for HIP’s container services and increasing confidence among shipping customers in the port’s operational capabilities.
HIP Group CEO Wilson Qu described the milestone as an important step in establishing Hambantota as a competitive container port serving both regional and international trade.
He attributed the growth to close engagement with shipping lines, operational reliability and the port’s ability to respond to changing customer requirements. He also noted that HIP is investing across its container-handling infrastructure, including equipment, berths, yard capacity, reefer facilities and infrastructure capable of accommodating larger vessels.
MSC, the port’s principal container-sector customer, has played a significant role in the growth of HIP’s container operations. The partnership has delivered several operational milestones during 2026.
In April, MSC Marie Leslie set a new single-vessel handling record at HIP after recording 7,968 container moves, equivalent to 13,260 TEUs, during its port call. The performance exceeded the previous records achieved by MSC Ilenia and MSC Ruby in March.
HIP subsequently recorded its highest-ever monthly container throughput in June, when it handled 80,325 TEUs. The performance demonstrated the port’s available capacity and operational readiness during a period of uncertainty across major international trade routes.
To support continued growth, HIP is undertaking a major expansion of its container-handling infrastructure. The programme includes additional equipment, increased berth utilisation, container-yard development, expanded reefer capacity and facilities designed to accommodate larger container vessels.
A key component of the investment programme is the addition of six quay cranes and 16 rubber-tyred gantry cranes. The equipment forms part of a wider US$108 million investment in container-handling machinery and supporting infrastructure and is scheduled to be commissioned by the end of February 2027.
Once operational, the new equipment is expected to increase ship-to-shore and yard-handling capacity, improve vessel turnaround times and enable the utilisation of an additional 1,300 metres of berth space. This will bring HIP’s total container quay length to nearly two kilometres.
The container yard is also set to expand by 30 percent, providing additional capacity to accommodate rising throughput.
Together, the infrastructure investments are designed to support HIP’s long-term goal of increasing its annual container-handling capacity to two million TEUs.
HIP Chief Operations Officer Tommy Yang said the latest milestone demonstrates that the port’s container business is entering a new phase of growth. He noted that the investment strategy is focused on expanding capacity ahead of demand while maintaining operational efficiency and financial sustainability.
The continued development of equipment, berths, container yards and reefer facilities is expected to enable HIP to handle greater volumes and larger vessels more efficiently, strengthening its position as an emerging regional container gateway.
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