Chittagong Port handles record 3.3m containers in 2024

Dhaka: Chittagong Port processed 3.258 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of containers as of December 29, marking a 6.8 per cent increase compared to last year’s figure of 3.051 million TEUs.

With this, the port surpassed the previous record of handling 3.215 million TEUs set in 2021, amid a substantial rise in foreign trade.

Of the total 3.258 million TEUs handled in 2024, approximately 1.762 million TEUs were import containers, while 1.497 million TEUs were for exports.

Reports mentioned officials anticipating, the total would increase by around 15,000 TEUs in the final two days of 2024.

Reports cited CPA Secretary Md Omar Faruk attributing the growth to the port’s enhanced capacity and efficiency, expressing optimism that it would improve the port’s ranking among the world’s 100 busiest container ports.

He also noted that the phased introduction of new equipment contributed significantly to the port’s increased handling capacity, according to reports.

The port’s operations faced a slowdown in 2022 and 2023 due to various global challenges, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict, regional tensions in the Middle East, and domestic issues such as a scarcity of US dollars and rising inflation.

The port also faced acute container congestion during the political unrest in July and August 2024. However, the recent surge in container handling signals a recovery in foreign trade.

The Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) compiled the container handling data, accounting for the number of loaded and unloaded import, export, and empty containers at the port’s main jetties as well as at the Pangaon Inland Container Terminal in Keraniganj and Kamalapur Inland Container Depot in Dhaka.

The total includes over 700,000 TEUs of empty containers, with around 60,000 TEUs returned to transshipment ports each month, added reports.

In terms of overall cargo, the port handled 123.1 million tonnes this year, surpassing last year’s record of 120.2 million tonnes.