Global shipping line unloads at Sri Lanka ports, concerns of congestion View(s):The global shipping line MSC will unload 6,500 containers meant for West Asia at the Hambantota Port, as there is currently no clearance for passage to the Gulf, shipping sources said. Meanwhile, pressure is likely to grow on Sri Lanka’s existing stocks of bunker fuel for ships, as demand for global supplies skyrockets. While ship traffic to Sri Lanka’s ports has not increased, there have been inquiries about whether shipping lines can offload their Gulf-bound cargo here. At a meeting with shipping lines this week, the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) was informed that bookings are no longer being accepted to West Asia. “As a result, such cargo will stay longer in our ports, using our space,” the sources said.

Source: Sunday Times March 08, 2026 16:21 UTC