Over 300 oil, gas cargo vessels visit Hambantota International Port in 2023: press release

COLOMBO, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Over 300 oil and gas cargo vessels have visited the Hambantota International Port (HIP) in 2023, recording a 132 percent increase in vessel calls compared to 2022, the Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG) said in a press release on Wednesday.

A key reason for this is the port's bunkering partner Sinopec actively operating in the market, bringing significant value addition to the HIP's commercial operations, the press release said.

The overall oil and gas throughput handled by the port in 2023 was 918,000 metric tons, with 700,000 metric tons of bunker and 218,000 metric tons of LPG cargoes, the press release said.

Thirty-five vessels called at HIP in July 2023, making it the month for the highest number of calls during the year, the press release said.

The port recorded a growth of 186 percent in LPG vessels and 125 percent growth in bunker vessels in 2023, HIPG said.

Tissa Wickramasinghe, chief operating officer of HIPG, said the significant progress in 2023 was made amid an economic downturn and a dollar crisis in Sri Lanka.