Colombo West International Terminal Phase II Inaugurated, Capacity Doubles to 3.2 Million TEUs
APSEZ's Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT) Phase II was inaugurated by Sri Lanka's PM.
- Capacity Expansion
- Capacity doubled from 1.6 million to 3.2 million TEUs
- Total Investment
- USD 750 Mn
- Throughput in First 18 Months
- 2 million TEUs
- Berthing Capability
- Three ultra-large container vessels simultaneously
- Concession Period
- 35-year BOT concession
What was announced
APSEZ issued a media release stating that the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka inaugurated Phase II of the Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT) on 30 September 2026.
Key details
- Capacity doubled from 1.6 million TEUs to 3.2 million TEUs.
- Total investment of USD 750 Mn.
- CWIT aims to handle nearly 25% of the Port of Colombo's targeted 13 million TEU capacity by 2028.
- Expanded capacity allows simultaneous berthing of three ultra-large container vessels.
- CWIT handled 2 million TEUs within its first 18 months of operation, after being the fastest terminal to handle 1 million TEUs in its inaugural year in 2024.
- The terminal has recorded 17 million safe working hours and generated over 3,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Ownership and structure
CWIT is developed by APSEZ along with John Keells Holdings and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority under a 35-year BOT (build-operate-transfer) concession. It is described as Sri Lanka's first fully automated deep-water container terminal, with fully electrified operations and zero tailpipe emissions.
Context on APSEZ
APSEZ operates 16 ports and terminals in India plus 4 international ports across Australia, Colombo, Israel and Tanzania. Its current cargo handling capacity is 653 million tonnes per annum, about 27% of India's total port volumes, with a target of 1 billion tonnes throughput by 2030.
How to read it
A TEU is a standard container unit used to measure terminal capacity. Doubling capacity expands the volume CWIT can potentially handle from its overseas transshipment hub, adding to APSEZ's international portfolio. Actual financial contribution will depend on cargo volumes realised over time.
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More numbers
- CWIT capacity after expansion3.2 million TEUs
- CWIT capacity before expansion1.6 million
- Total investmentUSD 750 Million
- Share of Port of Colombo target capacitynearly 25%
- Port of Colombo target capacity by 202813 million TEU
- TEUs handled in first 18 months2 million TEUs
- Period to reach 2 million TEUs18 months
- Concession tenure35-year
- Jobs generatedover 3,000
- Safe working hours17 million
- APSEZ cargo handling capacity653 million tonnes per annum
- Share of India's port volumesapproximately 27%
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