Cargo throughput at the Hambantota International Port (HIP) surged by 151% year-on-year, reaching 6.03 million metric tons by the end of September 2025, compared to 2.39 million metric tons during the same period last year.
This remarkable growth was achieved despite operational challenges following the lifting of the ban on local vehicle imports, which caused congestion and clearance delays.
To manage the increased traffic, HIP’s Operations Department introduced several strategic measures, including optimized yard allocation, rebalanced container flows, and revised stacking strategies to enhance capacity while maintaining safety and efficiency.
The port also boosted manpower, expanded yard space, and invested in new infrastructure to ensure uninterrupted vessel handling and maintain productivity levels.
HIP’s continued growth is further supported by significant investments and diversification of services. In late 2024, the port invested USD 41 million in new cranes, increasing its container handling capacity to 1 million TEUs per year.
Moreover, the port has strengthened its bunkering and energy services, achieving strong growth in LPG throughput and bunker volumes. Vehicle transshipment also rose by 26% year-on-year, underscoring HIP’s rapid development into a key multipurpose maritime hub in the region.
