The Port of Colombo entered 2026 with momentum and a calculated move to protect it. In early January, Sri Lanka Ports Authority signed a Terminal Service Agreement with CMA CGM, aiming to lock in more mainline and feeder volumes at a time when regional competition is tightening.

What the agreement really changes on the quay

The TSA is not a ceremonial handshake. It defines how CMA CGM vessels are handled at SLPA operated berths, covering berth windows, crane deployment, productivity benchmarks and service standards. In practical terms, it reduces uncertainty on both sides. Ships arrive with clearer expectations. Terminal planners gain firmer volume visibility.

The agreement applies primarily to SLPA’s Jaya and East Container Terminals, where coordination has become critical as Colombo pushes throughput higher without adding slack into the system.

The people and signals behind the signatures

The signing brought together senior leadership from both sides. From SLPA, Admiral Sirimewan Ranasinghe (Rtd) and Eng. Ganaka Hemachandra were present, alongside commercial leadership driving carrier engagement. CMA CGM’s Sri Lanka leadership attended with its local partner Hayleys Advantis, reinforcing that this was a long term operational commitment, not a tactical slot booking.

Why timing matters for Colombo

Colombo closed 2025 with a record 8.29 million TEU handled, up 6.4 percent year on year. Gateway volumes grew faster than transhipment, a shift that adds revenue but also pressure on yard and berth efficiency. At the same time, Indian and Southeast Asian ports are investing aggressively in capacity and reliability.

Against that backdrop, SLPA has been signing similar TSAs with Maersk and MSC. The CMA CGM deal fits a clear pattern. Secure predictable volumes first, then sweat the assets harder.

What CMA CGM stands to gain

For CMA CGM, which operates more than 650 vessels globally, Colombo remains a strategic node linking Asia with Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The TSA offers operational stability at a hub that is scaling toward a 10 million TEU ambition, raising a simple question competitors will notice quickly. Who gets guaranteed windows when congestion returns?

Source: Breakbulk News