Chittagong Port Shatters Records in 2025: A New Era for Bangladesh Logistics

The Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) has kicked off 2025 with unprecedented achievements, marking a transformative year for Bangladesh's maritime gateway despite global shipping disruptions. As the nation's economic lifeline, Chittagong Port has demonstrated remarkable resilience and growth, setting new benchmarks across all operational metrics.

Container Handling Volume Reaches Historic Highs

In a landmark achievement, Chittagong Port handled over 3.5 million TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) in 2025, representing a 12% year-over-year increase from 2024. This surge reflects Bangladesh's expanding role in global trade, particularly in the ready-made garment (RMG) sector and emerging manufacturing industries.

Key Drivers Behind the Volume Surge:

• Diversified Export Base: Beyond traditional garments, Bangladesh is now exporting pharmaceuticals, electronics, and leather goods at scale
• Import Growth: Rising consumer demand and industrial raw material requirements fueled import volumes
• Transshipment Operations: The port captured a larger share of regional transshipment cargo, competing effectively with Colombo and Singapore for feeder services
• Manufacturing Relocation: The "China Plus One" strategy brought new factories to Bangladesh, directly increasing cargo flows

The monthly average container handling exceeded 290,000 TEUs, with peak months (September-November) processing over 320,000 TEUs as retailers stocked up for the holiday season.

Vessel Turnaround Time: A Game-Changer for Efficiency

Perhaps the most impressive achievement of 2025 was the dramatic reduction in vessel turnaround time, a critical metric that directly impacts shipping costs and port competitiveness.

The Numbers Tell the Story:

What Made This Possible?

1. Patenga Container Terminal (PCT) Operations

The Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT) consortium brought world-class operational standards to PCT, deploying:

• 8 new Super Post-Panamax quay cranes
• 24 electric Rubber-Tyred Gantry (RTG) cranes
• Advanced Terminal Operating System (TOS)
• 24/7 operations with optimized shift management

2. Equipment Modernization at Jetties

CPA invested $180 million in upgrading equipment at existing jetties:

• Replaced 15 aging gantry cranes with high-efficiency models
• Introduced automated gate systems reducing truck processing time by 40%
• Implemented vessel traffic management system (VTMS) for better berth planning

3. Digitalization Initiatives

The rollout of the National Single Window (NSW) system streamlined documentation:

• Pre-arrival clearance reduced from 48 hours to 12 hours
• Electronic Bill of Lading (eBL) adoption reached 65%
• Real-time berth availability information for shipping lines

4. Dredging Success

Capital dredging increased the main channel draft to 10.5 meters, allowing larger vessels to enter fully loaded, reducing the need for lighterage operations.

Revenue Generation: Breaking Financial Records

Chittagong Port's financial performance in 2025 exceeded all projections, generating BDT 8,200 crore (approximately $765 million USD) in total revenue, marking an 18% increase from the previous year.

Revenue Breakdown:

Revenue Source	Amount (BDT Crore)	% of Total
Container Handling Charges	4,100	50%
Vessel Berthing Fees	1,640	20%
Storage & Demurrage	1,230	15%
Cargo Handling (Break Bulk)	820	10%
Ancillary Services	410	5%

Key Revenue Drivers:

Premium Services Command Higher Rates

• Express lanes for time-sensitive cargo (pharmaceuticals, perishables)
• 24-hour customs clearance facilities
• Priority berthing for ultra-large container vessels (ULCV)

Penalty Revenue Decline = Efficiency Win

Interestingly, demurrage and detention charges decreased by 8%, indicating faster cargo evacuation—a win-win for both the port and importers. While this seems counterintuitive for revenue, it reflects operational excellence that attracts more volume.

Infrastructure Monetization

• Cold storage facility rentals increased 35% with pharmaceutical exports booming
• Warehouse utilization reached 92% occupancy
• Truck terminal fees from improved logistics coordination

International Recognition

The port's improved performance attracted 15 new shipping lines to establish direct calls, eliminating transshipment costs and generating additional berthing revenue.

Cargo Throughput: Beyond Containers

While containers dominated headlines, total cargo throughput across all categories reached 125 million metric tons in 2025, up from 112 million tons in 2024—an impressive 11.6% growth.

Cargo Category Performance:

1. Containerized Cargo: 72 million tons

• Ready-made garments: 28 million tons
• Consumer goods: 18 million tons
• Industrial raw materials: 26 million tons

2. Bulk Cargo: 35 million tons

• Food grains (wheat, rice): 8 million tons
• Fertilizer: 6 million tons
• Clinker & cement: 12 million tons
• Coal: 9 million tons

3. Liquid Cargo: 12 million tons

• Petroleum products: 8 million tons
• Edible oils: 2.5 million tons
• Chemicals: 1.5 million tons

4. Break Bulk & General Cargo: 6 million tons

• Steel & construction materials
• Machinery & heavy equipment
• Vehicles

Notable Cargo Trends:

The Green Energy Transition

• Solar panel imports surged 140% as Bangladesh accelerates renewable energy adoption
• Wind turbine components handled for the first time (Matarbari projects)
• Electric vehicle (EV) imports tripled, though from a small base

Pharmaceutical Export Boom

Bangladesh's pharmaceutical exports via Chittagong Port grew 45%, with shipments now reaching 157 countries. Specialized cold chain facilities at the port enabled this growth.

Raw Material Diversification

As manufacturing shifts from China, Bangladesh is importing raw materials from ASEAN countries (Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia), creating new trade corridors and reducing reliance on Chinese supply chains.

The Challenges That Didn't Stop Progress

What makes 2025's achievements remarkable is that they came despite significant disruptions:

Global Shipping Volatility

• Red Sea security issues forced ships onto longer Cape of Good Hope routes, adding 10-14 days to transit times
• Panama Canal water restrictions limited vessel sizes
• Freight rate volatility created planning challenges

Domestic Infrastructure Constraints

• Chittagong city traffic congestion still delays truck movements
• Rail connectivity to the port remains underdeveloped (only 8% of cargo moves by rail)
• Power outages during monsoon affected some operations

Labor Strikes

• Two brief labor actions in April and August caused temporary slowdowns
• Resolved through CPA-union negotiations emphasizing mechanization benefits

Extreme Weather

• Cyclone Mocha in May 2025 forced port closure for 36 hours
• Extended monsoon rains caused temporary equipment issues

"Yet, the port delivered record performance—a testament to improved management, technology adoption, and workforce dedication."

What This Means for Bangladesh's Economy

The port's success has far-reaching implications:

1. Trade Facilitation

Reduced vessel turnaround times translate to lower logistics costs for exporters, making "Made in Bangladesh" products more competitive globally.

2. Foreign Investment Attraction

Efficient port operations are a key consideration for foreign investors. Samsung, Xiaomi, and other electronics manufacturers cited port improvements as factors in their Bangladesh expansion decisions.

3. Employment Generation

Direct and indirect port-related employment now exceeds 400,000 jobs:

• Port workers: 25,000
• Freight forwarders & customs agents: 15,000
• Trucking & logistics: 180,000
• Warehousing & packaging: 80,000
• Ancillary services: 100,000

4. Revenue for Development

The BDT 8,200 crore revenue funds:

• Port infrastructure expansion
• Dredging operations
• Equipment purchases
• Contribution to national exchequer (dividend payments)

5. Regional Competitiveness

Chittagong is now genuinely competing with regional hubs:

• Vs. Colombo: Offering better connectivity to Northeast India
• Vs. Visakhapatnam: Faster customs clearance
• Vs. Singapore: Cost advantage for regional cargo

Looking Ahead: The 2026 Roadmap

Building on 2025's success, CPA has announced ambitious targets for 2026:

Infrastructure Projects

• Bay Terminal Phase 1: Expected to open Q4 2026 with 1 million TEU capacity
• Matarbari Deep Sea Port: Pilot operations begin mid-2026
• Dhaka-Chittagong Railway Upgrade: To increase cargo rail share to 15%

Technology Upgrades

• Full automation of Container Freight Station (CFS) operations
• Blockchain-based documentation system pilot
• AI-powered predictive maintenance for equipment

Capacity Targets

• Container Handling: 4 million TEUs
• Total Cargo: 138 million metric tons
• Vessel Turnaround: Further reduction to 3.2 days average

Sustainability Initiatives

• Shore power facilities for vessels (cold ironing) to reduce emissions
• Solar panels on warehouse roofs (5 MW capacity)
• Electric yard equipment replacing diesel models

The Bright Star Shipping Perspective

As freight forwarders operating daily at Chittagong Port, we at Bright Star Shipping have witnessed these improvements firsthand. Our clients—exporters and importers across Bangladesh—are experiencing:

However, challenges remain:

• City-side logistics (road congestion from port to factories)
• CFS capacity constraints during peak season
• Need for more specialized cargo handling facilities

Our Advice to Clients in 2026:

1. Adopt Digital Documentation Early: The NSW is becoming mandatory
2. Plan Peak Season Shipments Earlier: September-November remain congested
3. Consider Consolidation Services: LCL (Less than Container Load) efficiency has improved dramatically
4. Explore Matarbari: As the deep-sea port opens, it will offer time savings for certain routes

Conclusion: A Foundation for Future Growth

Chittagong Port's record-breaking 2025 performance isn't just a statistical achievement—it's a strategic asset for Bangladesh's economic ambitions. As the country targets becoming a $1 trillion economy by 2040, efficient port operations are non-negotiable.

The 12% container volume growth, 27% turnaround time improvement, and 18% revenue increase demonstrate that Bangladeshi institutions can compete globally when equipped with proper infrastructure, technology, and management.

For businesses engaged in international trade, the message is clear: Bangladesh's logistics backbone is strengthening, making it an increasingly attractive destination for manufacturing, sourcing, and investment.

The journey from bottleneck to benchmark continues.