Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG) has announced a major investment of USD 108 million to strengthen its container handling capabilities, marking a significant step in the expansion of its terminal infrastructure.
The agreement was signed with Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. (ZPMC) on March 26 in Colombo. The deal includes the procurement of advanced container handling equipment such as quay cranes, rubber-tyred gantry cranes (RTGs), and trailers as part of Phase II development of the container terminal.
The new investment is set to significantly enhance operational efficiency at Hambantota International Port by enabling it to handle some of the world’s largest container vessels. It will also support the port’s transition toward greener and more sustainable operations through increased electrification of equipment.
Upon deployment, the equipment will activate the port’s existing 1,300-metre-long container berth, boosting overall handling capacity to around 2 million TEUs. This expansion will allow the port to accommodate multiple large vessels simultaneously, improving turnaround times and throughput.
With this move, HIPG continues to position Hambantota as a key logistics and transshipment hub in the Indian Ocean, further strengthening Sri Lanka’s role in global maritime trade.