Container handling at Chittagong Port soared by 9 per cent over the past three months, with a total of 830,582 containers processed from August to October, according to Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) Chairman Rear Admiral SM Moniruzzaman. Speaking at a media briefing, Moniruzzaman expressed optimism that, if the current trend continues, container handling could surpass 3.2 million TEUs by the end of the fiscal year.
The CPA Chairman highlighted that container handling at the port marked a growth of over 9.22 per cent compared to the same period last year. He also provided insights into the operational improvements at the port, noting that the average waiting time for ships has decreased. In mid-July, the port had 45,500 containers, reaching about 85 per cent of its total capacity. Today, that number has been reduced to 34,000 due to systematic innovations implemented in recent months, resulting in an average waiting time for ships reducing from eight days to six.
Moniruzzaman acknowledged the challenges presented by global economic instability, high inflation, and the ongoing repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as geopolitical tensions from the Russia-Ukraine war and the Middle East crisis. Despite these difficulties, he commended the CPA’s ability to sustain cargo and container handling operations through their expertise and experience.
In terms of financial performance, the CPA reported a revenue of Taka 1,643.85 crore over the last four months of the 2024-25 fiscal year, marking an impressive 21.85 per cent increase compared to the same period last year, and a 28.01 per cent rise from the preceding revenue quarter.
The Chittagong Port continues to play a critical role in Bangladesh’s economy, demonstrating resilience and growth in the face of global challenges.
