Chittagong Port — widely regarded as the lifeline of Bangladesh’s economy — has achieved record-breaking container handling figures in the 2024-25 financial year, despite facing a series of significant operational disruptions.
According to port authority data, the port processed 3,171,779 twenty-foot equivalent units or TEUs up till June 15, registering a 4.63 per cent increase compared with that of the 3,168,690 TEUs handled in the entire previous financial year or FY24.
With over two weeks remaining before the financial year closes on June 30, the port has already surpassed its previous annual total — a strong indication of continued growth momentum.
The Chittagong Port Authority, in a press release issued on Monday, said that the port’s achievement had come despite nearly two months of serious operational disruptions caused by the July uprising, prolonged monsoon flooding, successive Eid holidays, pen-down strikes by customs officials and nationwide transport stoppages.
The authority attributed the port’s resilience to a series of efficiency-focused reforms, including introduction of electronic gate pass systems, modernisation of container tracking and operational software and ongoing infrastructure improvements aimed at streamlining cargo movement.
It also highlighted the crucial role played by port users — such as importers, exporters and freight forwarders — noting that their proactive communication, timely container collection, and close cooperation with port officials had helped mitigate the impact of external disruptions.
In a broader context, the authority noted that the port had handled 3,007,375 TEUs in FY 2022-23, reflecting a steady upward trend in cargo throughput.
Looking ahead, the port authority expressed optimism that if the current pace of container handling continued, the Chittagong port could end FY25 with a record high in throughput.
