Port traffic and cargo

What this dataset contains

Sri Lanka Ports Authority figures compiled by DCS in Statistical Abstract 2025. Ship arrivals and reported gross/net vessel tonnage cover five port groups in 2018–2024. Cargo by port covers the same years, while a separate Colombo table extends to 2016 and distinguishes domestic, transhipment and re-stowed cargo loaded and discharged. Original port names and table identifiers remain available.

How it is used here

Track Colombo cargo using table 7.13, compare port totals using table 7.14, or examine ship arrivals using table 7.12. Select one table and measure before comparing years.

What it cannot tell you

Totals and components overlap. Vessel tonnage is kept on the source’s reported scale and must not be read as cargo mass. Missing years remain blank. Table identifiers distinguish conflicting Colombo totals. Table 7.14 has an ambiguous discharge label and two totals inconsistent with their components; affected observations have review notes. Ship arrivals exclude naval vessels, fishing trawlers, yachts and dredgers and do not count unique ships.