Hambantota Port records 175% Cargo Growth in 2025
View(s):Hambantota International Port (HIP) closed 2025 with a landmark performance, recording a 175 per cent year-on-year increase in total cargo volumes despite what has been widely recognised as one of the most challenging years for the global port industry.
HIP handled 8.24 million metric tonnes of cargo in 2025, up from 3 million metric tonnes in 2024, driven by sharp growth across container, RORO, and bulk cargo segments amid volatile trade flows, supply chain realignments, congestion pressures, and rising operating costs worldwide, according to an HIP media release.
A ship at the Hambantota port.
The most dramatic gains came from container traffic. Volumes surged from 53,170 TEUs in 2024 to 428,036 TEUs in 2025, while containerised cargo tonnage rose from 657,504 metric tonnes to 5.43 million metric tonnes, marking HIP’s rapid emergence as a significant container gateway within a single year.
Scheduled for completion by the end of 2026, the second phase will increase the port’s annual container handling capacity to approximately 2 million TEUs. This will be achieved by allocating four dedicated container berths and adding additional equipment, including six quay cranes (QCs) and 16 rubber-tyred gantry cranes (RTCs).
RORO operations also delivered solid growth despite subdued global automotive markets. HIP handled 726,153 RORO units in 2025, up from 579,362 units the previous year, with RORO tonnage increasing 25 per cent year-on-year to 965,783 metric tonnes, supported by steady automotive and project cargo demand.
“2025 was not an easy year to be a port,” said Wilson Qu, CEO of Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG). “What makes this performance remarkable is not just the scale of growth, but that it was achieved amid sustained amidst global disruption. These volumes reflect customer confidence, operational flexibility, aggressive marketing strategies in Sri Lanka and internationally, as well as the commitment of our team.”
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