COLOMBO, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG) said Thursday that it expects the return of container shipping through the Red Sea and Suez Canal to create new commercial opportunities as the port prepares to expand annual container handling capacity to 2 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in the first quarter of 2027.
Bindu Ranasinghe, HIPG general manager for commercial and marketing, said that disruptions in the Red Sea had accelerated Hambantota's entry into container transshipment.
The port began handling MSC container transshipment services in April 2024 and has since committed 149 million U.S. dollars to new container-handling equipment, he said.
Located about 10 nautical miles from the main East-West shipping route, Hambantota is well positioned to serve vessels returning to the Suez corridor after diversions around the Cape of Good Hope, Ranasinghe said.
HIPG also expects increased vessel traffic to raise demand for bunkering, ship supplies and other marine services.
The port is also preparing to expand into gateway container cargo for Sri Lankan imports and exports, supported by its industrial park, nearby investment zones and a planned container inspection center, he said. ■
