Exporters are once again grappling with disruptions as operational delays at the Port of Colombo force shipping lines to bypass the transshipment hub, diverting cargo to Indian ports instead.
Last week, ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. announced that its vessel, MV Shanghai 018W, originally scheduled to berth at Colombo on 14 September, would omit the port and proceed to India. The vessel is expected to return to Colombo only after 10 days, leaving Sri Lankan exporters facing delays of up to two weeks from the original schedule.
The congestion stems from fully occupied terminal yards and the lack of efficient Inter-Terminal Transport (ITT) to move transshipment containers between Colombo’s multiple terminals. Unlike Colombo, newer facilities such as Vizhinjam in India operate as single-basin ports, allowing quicker vessel turnaround and posing a competitive threat to Sri Lanka’s transshipment dominance.
“Colombo must fast-track the commissioning of the West Container Terminal (WCT) and East Container Terminal (ECT) while creating a robust ITT system to handle transshipment cargo efficiently,” industry sources stressed.
Exporters warn that such omissions jeopardize critical raw material supplies needed to meet production deadlines and export commitments. Despite these challenges, Colombo Port officials highlighted that in the first seven months of 2025, container throughput rose 4% to 4.7 million TEUs, reflecting continued demand for the port’s services.
For now, exporters remain anxious as operational bottlenecks and vessel omissions threaten supply chain reliability, putting pressure on Sri Lanka to accelerate infrastructure upgrades to maintain its position as South Asia’s leading transshipment hub.