HIP Crosses One Million TEU Milestone

Hambantota International Port (HIP) has surpassed a significant milestone by handling one million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) in cumulative container throughput. This achievement comes after the commissioning of new quay cranes in 2025, which has driven the rapid growth of the port's container operations. In 2025, HIP handled 428,036 TEUs, while the year-to-date figure for 2026 reached 574,196 TEUs, bringing the combined volume to 1,002,232 TEUs.

The milestone highlights the expanding customer confidence in HIP's operational capabilities and the port's progress in becoming a competitive container port serving both regional and international trade. HIP's CEO, Wilson Qu, emphasized that the achievement signals the port's readiness for its next phase of growth. The company is investing in various aspects of its container-handling chain, including equipment, berths, yard space, reefer capacity, and larger-vessel facilities.

MSC, HIP's principal customer in the container sector, has contributed significantly to its growth, with the port setting new records for single-vessel handling and monthly container throughput. To support sustained growth, HIP is undertaking extensive expansion of its container-handling facilities, including the installation of six new quay cranes and 16 rubber-tyred gantry cranes, as well as a 30% increase in container yard space.

These investments are aligned with the port's long-term goal of increasing annual container-handling capacity to two million TEUs.