The container yards at Bangladesh’s primary seaport, Chittagong, have exceeded their storage capacity amid a slowdown in import deliveries. The port’s yards, designed to hold up to 53,518 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), are currently overburdened with over 40,656 TEUs of full container load (FCL) import containers, surpassing the limit of 44,018 TEUs designated for import-laden containers.
The backlog stems from a sharp decline in daily import deliveries during the Eid-ul-Azha holiday week, when the number of containers moved out of the port dropped significantly. Prior to the holiday, around 7th June, the port handled approximately 28,000 TEUs of FCL containers daily. However, during the Eid holiday period, this figure plummeted to below 2,000 TEUs, leading to an accumulation of containers in the yards.
Industry experts and port officials expressed cautious optimism that vessel operations remain largely unaffected so far. Nazmul Hoque, executive director of Saif Powertec Limited, which operates the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT), stated that most vessels departed within 48 hours despite the congestion. He attributed this to proactive measures, including the removal of customs clearance delays and the prior evacuation of yard space, which helped manage vessel movement during the holidays.
Nevertheless, port authorities warn that if import deliveries do not rebound swiftly, the situation could worsen in the coming days, potentially disrupting port operations and leading to longer vessel wait times. Currently, ten container vessels are waiting at the outer anchorage, with figures rising during previous enforcement actions by customs officials.
Fazle Ekram Chowdhury, president of a berth operators’ association, emphasised the importance of resuming normal delivery volumes to prevent further congestion. “If we do not see a significant increase in daily imports soon, the backlog could escalate, hampering not just port activities but also crucial sectors like RMG, which relies heavily on timely import of raw materials,” he warned.
The Customs, Ports, and Shipping Authority (CPA) acting secretary Md Nasir Uddin expressed hope that the resumption of factory operations and related activities after Eid would restore normalcy. Given that the RMG sector constitutes a significant portion of Bangladesh’s export economy, any port delays threaten to impact production schedules and global supply commitments.
As the country’s garment industry gears up for upcoming export deadlines, authorities and industry stakeholders are urging swift action to clear the backlog and ensure smooth port operations, safeguarding Bangladesh’s position as a leading apparel exporter.
