Chittagong Port has set a new record in container and cargo handling, driven by a substantial rise in foreign trade. As of 29th December, the port processed 3.258 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of containers, marking a 6.8 per cent increase compared to last year’s figure of 3.051 million TEUs and surpassing the previous record of 3.215 million TEUs set in 2021.
Of the total 3.258 million TEUs handled, approximately 1.762 million TEUs were import containers, while 1.497 million TEUs were for exports. Port officials anticipate that the total could increase by around 15,000 TEUs in the final two days of 2024.
The port’s operations faced a slowdown in 2022 and 2023 due to various global challenges, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict, regional tensions in the Middle East, and domestic issues such as a scarcity of US dollars and rising inflation. However, the recent surge in container handling signals a recovery in foreign trade.
The Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) compiled the container handling data, accounting for the number of loaded and unloaded import, export, and empty containers at the port’s main jetties as well as at the Pangaon Inland Container Terminal in Keraniganj and Kamalapur Inland Container Depot in Dhaka. The total includes over 700,000 TEUs of empty containers, with around 60,000 TEUs returned to transshipment ports each month.
In terms of overall cargo, the port handled a remarkable 123.1 million tonnes this year, surpassing last year’s record of 120.2 million tonnes. CPA Secretary Md Omar Faruk attributed this growth to the port’s enhanced capacity and efficiency, expressing optimism that it would improve the port’s ranking among the world’s 100 busiest container ports. He noted that the phased introduction of new equipment contributed significantly to the port’s increased handling capacity.
The port also experienced acute container congestion during the political unrest in July and August, but this issue has gradually been alleviated through the coordinated efforts of port officials and users, according to Syed Md Arif, Chairman of the Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association.
The rise in container and cargo handling reflects the expanding and recovering nature of the country’s foreign trade after recent economic challenges.
