The export depots in Chittagong are experiencing significant congestion following a surge in shipments from Bangladeshi exporters eager to avoid US counter-tariffs. The pressure stems from a 35% countervailing duty imposed by the United States on Bangladeshi goods starting July 8, prompting buyers to rush shipments ahead of the 1st August deadline.
To circumvent the tariffs, Bangladeshi exporters accelerated their shipping schedules, sending goods to depots one to two weeks earlier than usual. This rush has resulted in a backlog of export containers across 22 depots in the port city. Despite an increase in container transfers from depots to ships via Chittagong Port, congestion remains acute.
Typically, the depots handle between 60,000 to 65,000 containers monthly. In July last year, private depots prepared 99,000 containers for export, of which 81,000 were shipped. The remaining 18,000 containers are still being sent to the port daily for loading onto ships. Shipping agents report that port congestion has worsened, with ships taking longer than usual to load and unload, further hampering the export process.
Ruhul Amin Sikder, Secretary General of the Container Depot Association, stated, “Despite the sudden increase in volume, depots are managing the containers effectively. On average, over 2,500 containers are unloaded onto ships at Chittagong Port daily.”
The upcoming US winter season, set to begin in many states from October, has also heightened the urgency for timely shipments of winter clothing. Exporters aimed to dispatch these goods by early August to meet US buyers’ demands while avoiding tariffs. The overall pressure has led to a preemptive rush, causing the current congestion and operational challenges at Chittagong’s export facilities.
