May 28th, 2026 – Sri Lanka’s Colombo Port is emerging as another major Asian container hub under strain as global supply chains absorb the impact of rerouted cargo linked to disruptions in the Middle East. Increased transshipment volumes have intensified operational pressure at terminals, leading to growing yard congestion and delays in inter-terminal transfer activity, a critical component of Colombo’s transshipment operations.
As one of South Asia’s primary intermediate ports, Colombo plays a vital role for Indian east coast shippers that depend heavily on transshipment connectivity. However, mounting congestion is now affecting vessel schedules and terminal efficiency. Industry sources indicate that ships are facing berthing delays averaging two to three days, adding significant operational costs for carriers already dealing with volatile market conditions.
Weather conditions along Sri Lanka’s coastline have further complicated efforts to maintain sailing schedules, creating additional challenges for carriers attempting to manage already strained port operations.
The congestion has also forced some shipping lines to make last-minute adjustments to their terminal calls in Colombo. The Gemini Cooperation recently shifted both westbound and eastbound calls on its South India-Europe service from Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT) to South Asia Gateway Terminal (SAGT). The service, operated as ME2 by Maersk and IEX by Hapag-Lloyd, had previously relied on fixed-day berthing windows at CWIT.
CWIT, which is managed by Adani Ports, officially began operations in April 2025 and initially handled ad-hoc calls within the Gemini network.
Port throughput in Colombo has risen sharply since the start of the Middle East conflict on February 28th. Container volumes climbed approximately 20%, increasing from 636,084 TEUs in February to 736,094 TEUs in March and 761,096 TEUs in April, according to available port data.
The pressure on Colombo reflects broader regional disruptions caused by carriers diverting vessels away from conflict zones. India’s largest container gateways, including Nhava Sheva and Mundra, have also experienced severe yard congestion and slower gate operations in recent weeks. The ongoing bottlenecks have raised concerns among supply chain stakeholders and government authorities alike.
In response, Indian authorities have introduced new measures aimed at easing freight delays. Nhava Sheva is accelerating rail evacuations and implementing green channel operations to improve cargo movement, while the Indian Ports Association is preparing an audit to assess the full extent of congestion issues at the port.
