The transshipment volumes handled by the Port rose to 4.2 per cent year on year to 5.85 million TEU, and transshipment volumes accounted for 81 per cent of the Port's container throughput during the period, according to Sri Lanka's Daily Mirror.

Similarly, the import and export container volumes also grew by 10.3 per cent year on year and 9.3 per cent year on year to 602,435 TEU and 596,620 TEU respectively. In addition, re-stowing volumes rose by 32.1 per cent to 200,256 TEU, compared to the previous year.

The Port's only fully operational deep container terminal, Colombo International Container Terminal (CICT) handled 3.21 million TEU during the year, up by 11.3 per cent from 2.88 million TEU recorded in 2020. It contributed to 44.27 per cent of container throughput of the Port in 2021, compared to 42 per cent and 40 per cent in 2020 and 2019.

Meanwhile, SLPA-managed Jaya Container Terminal (JCT) and its partially operational East Container Terminal (ECT) handled nearly 2.2 million TEU in 2021, marginally up from 2.1 million TEU in 2020.

The container volumes handled by South Asia Gateway Terminal (SAGT) declined marginally to 1.84 million TEU in the year from 1.87 million TEU in 2020, mainly due to disruptions to global vessel movement unfolded in the third quarter of last year. However, the terminal reported nine per cent year-on-year increase in container volumes in the fourth quarter of last year after container volumes dropped by 18 per cent in the third quarter.

"The profitability at SAGT recorded an increase as a result of improved volumes and higher revenue from ancillary operations, despite the marginal shift in the throughput mix on account of the continuing import restrictions in place in the country," the terminal operator said. Container throughput at the Port rose by 16 per cent year on year to 653,191 TEU with all terminals recording double digit growth rates.

During the year 2021, the Port of Colombo saw 3,675 ship arrivals including 3,180 container ships, down from 3,806 ships and 3,281 container ship arrivals in 2020.

Meanwhile, cargo volumes at CMPort-managed Hambantota Port rose by 28.5 per cent to 2.24 million tonnes in 2021 driven by break bulk volumes. However, liquid bulk or tanker cargos volumes were down by over 50 per cent year on year.