Sri Lanka's Hambantota Port Sets Record Cargo Volumes in June 2026

Hambantota International Port in Sri Lanka recorded its highest monthly throughput ever in June 2026, handling 90,219 vehicles on its roll‑on/roll‑off (RoRo) yard and 80,325 twenty‑foot equivalent units (TEUs) in its container terminal. The surge was attributed to shipping lines rerouting cargo amid rising security uncertainties around the Strait of Hormuz.

The port’s recent expansion—doubling RoRo yard capacity, enlarging container‑yard space by 30 % and committing US$108 million to new handling equipment—positions it to raise annual container capacity to 2 million TEUs. In 2025, overall cargo rose 175 % YoY to 8.24 million metric tonnes, with container volumes jumping from 53,169 TEU in 2024 to 428,036 TEU in 2025. In April 2026, a single vessel, the MSC Marie Leslie, set a record by moving 13,260 TEU.

“June’s performance demonstrates the importance of anticipating change and being ready when customers need alternatives,” said Wilson Qu, Chief Executive of Hambantota International Port Group.