Garment exporters in Bangladesh have opposed the move by the feeder vessel operators to increase charges for inbound and outbound shipments.
According to reports, as part of ECRS or emergency cost recovery surcharge, Port Klang, Chittagong Port, Singapore Port and Colombo Port have imposed US $ 75 and US $ 37.50 surcharge for per goods-laden 20-foot container and per empty container, respectively, creating congestion.
The apex garment makers’ body in the country, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMA), as such has demanded withdrawal of the congestion surcharge (imposed by feeder vessel owners since 15 November 2020) and wrote two separate letters, respectively, to the Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association and the Chittagong Port Authority to take immediate steps in this regard.
The garment makers’ body while saying that garment exporters would lose competitiveness in global market due to the same in light of the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, has called upon the concerned authorities to withdraw the additional charges.
Meanwhile, garment manufacturers have maintained, given the existing situation — garment makers are currently struggling to recover their business from the COVID-19 fallouts — the congestion surcharge imposed by the feeder vessel owners would hit hard exports.
In this present economic recession, feeder vessels hiking fares is completely unreasonable and unacceptable, reportedly stated Mohammed Abdus Salam, the first Vice-President of the BGMEA while adding that due to the pandemic, RMG sector and other industries were facing a disastrous situation.
