Chattogram Port logs robust 11% cargo growth in 2025

Chattogram Port recorded a strong 11.17% year-on-year growth in cargo handling in 2025, alongside moderate increases in container throughput and vessel calls, signalling steady momentum in the country's external trade despite operational constraints and global uncertainties.

According to the Chattogram Port Authority (CPA), the country's principal seaport handled 137.83 million tonnes of cargo from January to 30 December 2025, up from 123.98 million tonnes in 2024. Container handling rose by 3.88% to 34,02,762 TEUs, while vessel calls increased by 10.34% to 4,267 over the same period.

The latest data underlines Chattogram Port's dominant role in the national economy, handling more than 90% of Bangladesh's seaborne trade and nearly all containerised imports and exports.

Container traffic, which had slowed after the post-pandemic rebound, continued its recovery in 2025. After reaching a record 32.15 lakh TEUs in 2021, volumes fell to 31.42 lakh TEUs in 2022 and 30.50 lakh TEUs in 2023 amid weaker global demand and supply chain disruptions. The trend reversed in 2024, when handling rose to around 32.76 lakh TEUs, before increasing further to 34.03 lakh TEUs in 2025.

While the 3.88% growth in container handling is well below the sharp surge seen in 2021, it points to stabilisation in port activity. Daily container handling remained high at around 7,000-8,000 TEUs, continuing to put pressure on yard space and evacuation capacity.

The gains came despite longstanding challenges such as congestion, limited yard capacity and bottlenecks in road and rail connectivity. In recent years, the port has crossed key operational milestones and pushed ahead with gradual reforms to manage rising trade

volumes.

Confirming the growth, CPA Secretary Omar Faruk said improved equipment utilisation, expanded container yards and greater use of off-dock facilities have helped ease pressure during peak periods. He added that closer coordination with shipping lines has also contributed to smoother operations.

In 2024, Chattogram Port handled about 3.28 million TEUs and 3,867 vessels. The notable rise in vessel calls in 2025 suggests stronger shipping activity and improved turnaround efficiency, even as global shipping routes continued to adjust to geopolitical and economic shifts.

Industry stakeholders, however, caution that sustaining this growth will depend on faster implementation of major infrastructure projects, including the Bay Terminal, and  improved rail and road links. Persistent congestion at port gates and delays in container evacuation remain key concerns for traders.

 With container volumes approaching 3.5 million TEUs and cargo throughput continuing to rise, analysts say Chattogram Port's 2025 performance highlights both the resilience of Bangladesh's trade and the urgency of scaling up port capacity to meet future demand.