Adani Ports Expands Colombo Terminal With $750 Million Investment
Mumbai: Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) has doubled the capacity of its Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT) in Sri Lanka from 1.6 million TEUs to 3.2 million TEUs after completing its Phase II expansion.
The terminal has a total investment of $750 million so that now it is a major development for Colombo in international container shipping and transshipment.
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya inaugurated the expanded facility yesterday.
Colombo Terminal Capacity Doubles
The Phase II expansion has increased CWIT's annual handling capacity to 3.2 million TEUs. The TEU or twenty-foot equivalent unit is a standard measurement for container traffic.
The increased capacity is expected to enhance Colombo's position as an East-West trade route and transshipment centre linking the major shipping routes across the Indian Ocean.
With the expansion, CWIT aims to take on nearly 25% of Colombo Port’s 13 million TEU capacity by 2028.
Could Terminal handle three Ultra-Large Ships?
The new facility will enable three ultra-large container vessels to be operated at the same time.
CWIT is Sri Lanka’s first fully automated deep-water container terminal and has been designed to accommodate some of the world’s largest container ships.
The terminal also uses fully electrified operations to reduce tailpipe emissions during its operations.
CWIT Handles 2 Million TEUs in 18 Months
The terminal has already had strong cargo-handling numbers. CWIT handled 2 million TEUs in its first 18 months of operation.
The terminal had previously crossed the 1 million TEU mark in 2024, in its first year of operation.
According to APSEZ, the expanded capacity will support both transshipment cargo and Sri Lanka’s export-import trade.
APSEZ Whole-Time Director and CEO Ashwani Gupta said the expansion strengthens the company’s international presence and its position along important Indian Ocean trade corridors.
Project creates More than 3,000 Jobs
CWIT was developed by APSEZ, John Keells Holdings and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority under a 35-year build-operate-transfer concession.
The project generated more than 3,000 direct and indirect jobs, according to the company.
The terminal has also completed 17 million safe working hours and has reached its operational milestone since the start of the project.
Colombo wants to strengthen regional trade position.
Krishan Balendra, Chairperson of the John Keells Group, said this expansion will help to enhance Colombo’s status as a regional transshipment centre.
The increased capacity could also support Sri Lanka’s presence in regional trade by accommodating more international container traffic at the port.
The Colombo West International Terminal has now been expanded to 3.2 million TEUs and as a result it will be a major part of the region’s expanding shipping and logistics market.