Adani-led Colombo West terminal hits 1 million TEUs in record first year

The Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT), a majority-owned subsidiary of India’s Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ), has handled over a million TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) within its first year of operations, the company said.

“The achievement marks the fastest ramp-up recorded at the Port of Colombo, placing the CWIT among a select group of global facilities to reach such scale in its inaugural year,” the company said in a statement.

“CWIT’s performance reflects strong early alignment with shipping lines, efficient berth productivity and the advantage of operating within an established transshipment ecosystem.”

The 800 million dollar facility, which commenced operations in April 2025, is a joint venture between APSEZ, which handles nearly 45 percent of India’s container cargo, Sri Lankan conglomerate John Keells Holdings PLC (JKH), and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA).

As the first fully automated deep-water terminal in the port, CWIT features a 1,400-metre quay and a depth of 20 metres.

These specifications allow it to dock the world’s largest ultra-large container vessels (ULCVs) traversing the Asia-Europe trade routes.

Regional Transshipment Hub

A significant portion of the terminal’s volume is linked to the Indian market, where APSEZ already operates a network of 15 ports.

With an annual capacity of 3.2 million TEUs, the CWIT has expanded the Port of Colombo’s total handling capability.

The success of the terminal comes at a time when global trade flows are increasingly shifting toward the Indian Ocean Region, making efficient transshipment nodes critical for international shipping networks.

In March 2025, Adani Group decided to withdraw its wind power deals with Sri Lanka, after Colombo’s newly elected government demanded to lower the price.

Adani Green Energy was to invest $442 million to build two wind power stations in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province after protracted discussions to establish the 484 MW renewable energy wind farms at Mannar and Pooneryn, along with its associated Transmission system.

source: Economy Next