The Chittagong port is experiencing a significant reduction in activity, with many of its 12 container jetties remaining vacant for the past few weeks. This decline in port usage is attributed to a decrease in the number of ships arriving, which correlates with a notable drop in imports.
Currently, Chittagong Port operates a total of 18 jetties, with 12 designated for container vessels and the remaining six for bulk cargo. Port officials report that vessels can now secure berths upon arrival, avoiding the previous wait times at outer anchorage—a stark contrast to the congestion seen in July and August.
As of 29th November, the situation has worsened, with a maximum of seven jetties reported vacant. In November, the port welcomed 325 vessels, down from 337 in October. The number of container vessels arriving also saw a decrease, with 103 in November compared to 109 the previous month.
Stakeholders indicate that the decline in vessel arrivals is largely due to complications in opening letters of credit, exacerbated by a US dollar shortage. Data from the port reveals that approximately 113,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of import-laden containers were received in November, marking the lowest monthly total in eight months. Additionally, the total number of containers, including empty ones, delivered to the main jetties and inland container depots across the country reached 140,000 TEUs— the lowest figure since March.
Shipping agents and container vessel operators have noted that ships bound for Chattogram are arriving with significantly fewer import containers from transshipment ports. For example, the vessel SOL Promise, which typically carries between 600 to 800 TEUs, departed from a Sri Lankan port on 29th November with only 117 TEUs of import-laden containers.
Muntasir Rubayat, head of operations at GBX Logistics, explained that some vessels are extending their routes to nearby transshipment ports in search of additional cargo to offset losses from the reduced number of containers destined for Chattogram, resulting in delayed arrivals and continued vacant jetties.
Syed M Arif, chairman of the Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association, highlighted that the complexities surrounding letters of credit have led to a recent decline in cargo imports, including essential raw materials. Nasir Uddin Chowdhury, chairman of the standing committee on port and shipping for the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, confirmed that many large factories have curtailed their raw material imports due to a decrease in work orders and slower business activity, particularly amid ongoing unrest in Dhaka’s readymade garment sector.
Chowdhury noted that while this slowdown is typical for the final months of the year, he remains optimistic that business activity will pick up in the coming months.
