Adani-led Colombo West Terminal surpasses 1 million TEU in its inaugural year, marking a significant achievement in global maritime operations.
The Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT), majority-owned by India's Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ), has handled more than one million TEU in its first year of operations, reports Colombo's EconomyNext.
The company stated that this achievement marks the fastest ramp-up at the Port of Colombo, placing CWIT among a select group of global facilities to reach such scale in its inaugural year.
The US$800 million terminal began operations in April 2025 as a joint venture between APSEZ, Sri Lankan conglomerate John Keells Holdings, and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority. CWIT is the port's first fully automated deep-water terminal, featuring a 1,400-metre quay and a depth of 20 metres, enabling it to berth the largest ultra-large container vessels on Asia-Europe routes.
CWIT has an annual capacity of 3.2 million TEU, significantly expanding Colombo's overall handling capability. Much of its volume is linked to the Indian market, where APSEZ operates 15 ports. The company noted that strong alignment with shipping lines and efficient berth productivity contributed to this rapid growth.
This milestone comes as global trade flows shift toward the Indian Ocean Region, making transshipment hubs increasingly critical. The Adani Group last year withdrew from planned $442 million wind power projects in Sri Lanka after disagreements with the government over pricing.
