Chattogram Port sails to record year as ship arrivals, cargo, revenue post broad-based growth

Container and cargo handling rose across the board in 2025, while port revenue climbed 7.55 percent despite operational challenges

Chattogram Port has recorded gains across all key indicators over the past year, with higher volumes of containers and bulk cargo handled and a sharp rise in ship arrivals, underscoring the premier sea port’s growing role in the trade-led economy.

According to port authority data, container handling increased by 4 percent, while both cargo and ship handling rose by about 11 percent year on year.

In 2025, the port handled a total of 3.409 million TEUs of import and export containers, up by 133,442 TEUs, or 4.07 percent, from the previous year.

Bulk cargo handling also rose strongly. The port handled 138.15 million metric tonnes of open cargo during the year, an increase of 14.17 million tonnes, or 11.43 percent, compared with the year before.

Ship traffic saw a notable rise as well. A total of 4,273 vessels called at the port in 2025, up by 406 ships from 2024, marking a 10.50 percent increase in ship handling.

Md Omar Faruk, director (Administration) of the port, told bdnews24.com that the port handled about 3.4 million containers in the 2025 calendar year, the highest volume in its history.

Chattogram Port handles around 92 percent of Bangladesh’s total import-export cargo and 98 percent of containerised trade, making it the backbone of the country’s maritime commerce.

Historical data show steady growth over recent years. Container handling stood at 3.27 million TEUs in 2024, 3.05 million in 2023, 3.14 million in 2022, 3.21 million in 2021 and 2.83 million in 2020.

Bulk cargo handling reached 123.98 million tonnes in 2024, compared with 120.23 million tonnes in 2023 and 103.21 million tonnes in 2020.

In terms of ship arrivals, 3,857 vessels were handled in 2024, compared with 4,103 in 2023 and 3,728 in 2020.

Omar described 2025 as not only a year of progress but also of transformation, saying the port advanced on all indicators despite challenges such as customs work stoppages.

Yard expansion, faster operations, capacity enhancement and digitalisation, combined with close supervision of staff, helped deliver the gains, he said.

Revenue collection also increased. In 2025, the Chattogram Port Authority earned Tk 54.6 billion in revenue, up 7.55 percent from the previous year, while contributing Tk 18.04 billion to the government.

Looking ahead, Omar said the port aims not only to accelerate growth but also to support a sustainable, inclusive and innovation-driven maritime economy that can help position Bangladesh as a global trading hub.