Hambantota International Port (HIP) achieved its highest-ever monthly cargo performance in June 2026, handling a record 90,219 vehicles through its RoRo terminal and 80,325 TEUs of container cargo, underscoring the port’s growing role as a key transshipment and logistics hub in the region.
The record performance comes amid proactive operational planning by the port to address uncertainties surrounding shipping routes in the Middle East. Anticipating potential disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz, HIP strengthened its operational readiness by ensuring adequate capacity and assuring customers of uninterrupted services. The strategy, coupled with targeted customer engagement, helped attract additional cargo and reinforce customer confidence.
Commenting on the achievement, Wilson Qu, CEO of Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG), said the June results reflected the port’s ability to anticipate market changes and provide customers with reliable alternatives during periods of uncertainty. He noted that the record volumes demonstrated growing customer trust and supported the port’s long-term growth strategy across both RoRo and container businesses.
The latest milestone builds on HIP’s strong performance in 2025, when total cargo throughput increased 175% to 8.24 million metric tonnes. Container volumes surged from 53,169 TEUs in 2024 to 428,036 TEUs in 2025, highlighting the port’s rapid emergence as a regional container hub alongside its well-established vehicle transshipment business.
To accommodate rising demand, HIP has significantly expanded its infrastructure this year, doubling its RoRo yard capacity and increasing container yard space by 30%. The port has also committed USD 108 million towards new container handling equipment, with plans to raise annual container terminal capacity to 2 million TEUs.
The port’s container business has continued its upward trajectory in 2026. In April, HIP recorded its highest single-vessel container operation by handling 13,260 TEUs from the MSC Marie Leslie, surpassing previous vessel productivity records set earlier this year.
Strategically located just 10 nautical miles from the main East-West shipping route, Hambantota International Port offers diversified services spanning RoRo, containers, bulk, breakbulk, marine services and energy logistics. The latest throughput records further reinforce the port’s position as an increasingly important gateway for regional and global maritime trade.
