Pre-Eid export surge overwhelms Ctg inland container depots

Highlights

• Export container volume doubles in 15 days
• Currently, 14,516 TEUs of export containers at depots
• Transport costs from Chattogram to Dhaka soar
• Delays in unloading and loading worsen congestion
• Depot backlog causes trucks to wait days

Chattogram's private inland container depots (ICDs) are facing mounting pressure due to a sharp rise in export shipments, particularly in the ready-made garment sector, as businesses rush to dispatch goods ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays.

According to the Bangladesh Inland Container Depot Association (Bicda), as of 15 March, ICDs housed 7,759 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of export containers. By yesterday, the number had surged to 14,516 TEUs.

The 19 ICDs in Chattogram collectively have a capacity of 10,000 TEUs for export containers. Under normal circumstances, they handle between 6,000 and 7,000 TEUs.

However, in the past 15 days, export volume has more than doubled, significantly disrupting normal operations.

Additionally, 5,616 TEUs of import containers and 59,271 TEUs of empty containers are stored in the depots.

Meanwhile, authorities have announced that Chattogram Port, Customs, and private container depots will operate through the Eid-ul-Fitr holiday to maintain a continuous import and export supply chain.

Rising transport costs and delays

Around 4,000 trucks and covered vans carrying goods are either inside or waiting in the yards of various depots, as of yesterday.

This congestion has led to a sharp rise in transportation costs. The fare for covered vans travelling from Chattogram to Dhaka has surged, increasing from Tk15,000–16,000 to Tk20,000–25,000.

Chowdhury Zafar Ahmad, secretary general of the Bangladesh Truck-Covered Van-Prime Mover Owners Association, noted that the government has restricted truck, covered van, and lorry movement on highways for seven days before Eid.

Although garment shipments are exempt, he alleged that they still face difficulties in moving freely, contributing to the rise in transport costs.

Export goods bound for Chattogram Port must first be taken to ICDs for loading into containers. Once ship schedules are confirmed, the containers are transported from the depots to the port's hook points for vessel loading.

Chattogram's 19 private ICDs, also known as off-docks, handle about 95% of the country's export shipments and manage 38 types of import goods, including rice, wheat, mustard seeds, chickpeas, pulses, and scrap materials.

These depots play a vital role in reducing congestion at the Chattogram Port and expediting cargo clearance.

Bicda officials stated that the extended Eid holidays have prompted garment manufacturers to send shipments to ICDs well in advance, creating operational bottlenecks.

The simultaneous arrival of goods has led to delays in unloading and container loading, further straining depot operations. Vehicles transporting goods are experiencing prolonged waiting times at depot gates.

Typically, goods transported in covered vans are unloaded within 8 to 12 hours of arrival at a depot.

However, last week, some vans waited for two to three days before being unloaded, causing a backlog at depot entrances.

While congestion at depot gates has eased slightly in the past two days, vehicles carrying goods remain queued inside the depots.

Industry response

Ruhul Amin Sikder, secretary general of Bicda, acknowledged the operational challenges.

"The depots are struggling to load containers as the volume of goods has doubled compared to normal levels. In some depots, the number of waiting trucks and covered vans has also doubled," he said.

He added that container deliveries usually decline before and after Eid, causing congestion at ports and depots—an annual occurrence.

On average, Bicda reports that 2,200 to 2,300 TEUs of export containers are shipped daily from ICDs, while 3,000 to 3,200 trucks and covered vans transport goods to and from the depots.

Shipping agents confirmed that garment manufacturers routinely send goods to ICDs ahead of the Eid holidays, leading to similar surges each year.

Rakibul Alam Chowdhury, former vice president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, explained the necessity of early shipments.

"Garment factories remain closed during Eid holidays and take a few days to resume operations afterward. Therefore, shipments must be sent to depots about a week in advance, even if ship schedules are later. This is a key reason behind the spike in freight costs from Dhaka to Chattogram," he said.

Ctg Port, Customs to remain operational during Eid

Chattogram Port, Customs, and private container depots will remain operational during the Eid-ul-Fitr holiday, from 28 March to 5 April, to ensure an uninterrupted supply chain for import and export activities.

Authorities have issued directives to keep operations running, with manpower allocated across key departments.

Officials have also been instructed to ensure staffing at Janata Bank, One Bank, and other authorised banks within the port. Sonali Bank's relevant branches and private depots linked to Chittagong Custom House have also been asked to remain open.

Chittagong Port Authority Secretary Md Omar Faruk said that port operations, including cargo loading and container delivery, continue every year during Eid.

This year, activities will be suspended for eight hours on Eid day, from 8am to 4pm, before resuming in the afternoon. Ship loading and unloading will continue as usual.

Chattogram Customs will also maintain operations in line with government directives.

A duty roster has been assigned for deputy commissioners, revenue officers, assistant revenue officers, and branch assistants to ensure that customs clearance services continue.

The Chattogram Custom House has instructed relevant units to sustain export operations within the Chattogram Export Processing Zone.

Bicda Secretary General Ruhul Amin Sikder said private depots have remained operational during Eid for over a decade, similar to Chattogram Port. However, they will suspend activities for the day only.