Amid the Russia-Ukraine war, global instability and dollar crisis, Chattogram Port, the heart of the country's economy, has once again entered the three million (three-millionaire) club. It has achieved this milestone for the fifth time this year by handling more than 3 million containers.
Port officials said that this achievement was possible due to the increase in container handling capacity and continued trade growth.
According to port sources, Chattogram Port handled 3 million 50 thousand 793 TEU (Twenty Foot Equivalent Unit) containers in 2023. From January to December this year, an average of 270 thousand TEU containers was handled on a monthly basis. By mid-December, this number stood at 3 million 43 thousand 997 TEU.
According to the monthly report, 265,362 TEU containers were handled in January this year, 245,266 in February, 274,574 in March, 255,369 in April, 319,333 in May, 274,773 in June, 271,335 in July, 271,869 in August, 283,324 in September, 275,389 in October and 275,318 in November. In addition, 51,463 TEUs were handled in the 15 days of December.
According to the port authority's forecast, based on the average of 3,500 container handling in December, it is estimated that this number can reach 3,151,460 TEUs by the end of December. In 2022, the port handled 3,142,000 TEUs and 3,214,000 TEUs in 2021.
Rajib Chowdhury, Assistant Terminal Manager of the Chattogram Port Authority, said that container handling has increased as a result of the expansion of the port's equipment facilities. On average, 5 to 6 thousand containers are being handled daily. We hope to be able to break the record of 2022.
Syed Md. Arif, President of the Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association and Managing Director of ABC Shipping, said that the performance of Chattogram Port has improved a lot. However, three important steps need to be taken to improve further. First, container unloading activities should be moved outside the port and initiatives should be taken to increase off-docking on easy terms. Second, scanners should be installed at the Patenga Container Terminal.
He said that he has heard that the work of installing scanners will start in February. This will further increase container handling. Third, the implementation of the bay terminal through proper planning.
Syed Md. Arif believes that if these initiatives are implemented, Chattogram Port will become the best port in South Asia.
According to the review, Chattogram Port is ranked 67th in the list of top ports in the world. In South Asia, India's Mundra Port is ranked 24th and Sri Lanka's Colombo Port is ranked 27th.
The increase in container handling at Chattogram Port is due to the increase in the country's trade, said Port Authority Secretary Omar Farooq. He said that container handling has increased naturally due to the increase in import and export. However, the performance of the port depends on the country's economy.
He further said that the port authority's job is to provide necessary facilities. Various facilities have been increased in the last few years. However, it is necessary to increase trade to continuously improve container handling.
Regarding future plans, he said that instead of keeping the goods unloading process inside the port, it is being considered to move it outside. This will reduce the waiting time and stay time of ships. As a result, more ships will be able to dock and the amount of container handling will increase