Despite year-long challenges, Chattogram Port posted 7.55% growth in revenue in the last calendar year, demonstrating operational excellence at the country’s premier seaport, which handles 92% of the nation’s seaborne trade.
The port recorded the highest-ever throughput across all three key indicators, registering year-on-year growth of 4.07% in container handling, 11.43% in cargo handling and 10.50% in vessel handling.
In 2024, the growth was registered at 7.42% in container handling and 3.11% in cargo handling, while vessel handling saw a negative growth of 5.75%.
According to data from the Chittagong Port Authority, the port handled 3409,069 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of containers, 138151,812 tonnes of cargo and 4,273 vessels last year.
The 2025 volumes surpassed all previous records in the history of the port, with an additional handling of 133,442 TEU containers, 14168,798 tonnes cargo and 406 vessels.
Container handling in recent years stood at 3050,793 TEUs in 2023 while 3142,504 TEUs in 2022, 3214,548 TEUs in 2021, 2839,977 TEUs in 2020 and 3088,187 TEUs in 2019.
Similarly, cargo handling amounted to 12,02,30,293 tonnes , 11,96,65,682 tonnes, 11,66,19,158 tonnes, 10,32,09,724 tonnes and 103077,736 tonnes in 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019 respectively.
In 2024, 3,867 vessels arrived at the port, compared to 4,103, 4,361, 4,209, 3,728 and 3,807 vessels in 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019 respectively, the data shows.
The CPA reported earnings of Tk5,460.18 crore in 2025, up from Tk5055.99 crore in 2024.
Mentionable, the country’s logistic sector and export-import trade went through an unprecedented uncertainty last year for prolonged debates, protests and legal tangles over tariff hikes by the Port and private off-docks, and the appointment of foreign operators at key port terminals.
Besides, repeated strikes by NBR officials, transport workers and owners also disrupted operations on different occasions, said sources.
CPA Secretary Mohammad Omar Faruk attributed the achievements to the outstanding performance by Bangladesh Navy-run Chittagong Dry Dock Limited (CDDL) at New-mooring Container Terminal (NCT), addition of modern cargo-handling equipment, yard capacity enhancement, use of technology, the tireless efforts by the port officials and employees, and cooperation from the stakeholders.
He informed that the CDDL handled some 6,98,668 TEUs containers at the NCT in six months until December, achieving a growth of 10.19% - 64,620 TEUs up compared to the corresponding period.
The secretary noted that vessel waiting time was zero on 79 days in the last four months of the last year, as ships got berthing on-arrival.
“The ongoing on-arrival berthing facility, an average vessel turnaround time of 2.53 days and average container dwell time of 9.44 days are allowing the exporters and importers to ship and take delivery of containers faster, reducing overall port lead time,” he said, adding that some 35 equipment including 20 three-tonne forklifts and 15 five-tonne forklifts were added last year.
Khairul Alam Suzan, former vice-president of Bangladesh Freight Forwarders Association (BAFFA), described the achievements as the result of improved port performance and cooperation among all stakeholders.
He anticipated that the momentum would continue in the current year, further boosting the country’s international trade.
Source: Daily Sun
Bd-pratidin English/ ANI
