Ctg Port extends suspension of four-times penal rent on imported FCL containers
The Chittagong Port Authority has again extended the suspension of its four-times penal rent on imported full container load (FCL) units at both Chattogram Port and Dhaka's Kamalapur ICD, aiming to ease pressure on traders and keep cargo movement steady through the year-end.
A circular from the office of the director (traffic), issued yesterday (4 December), said the suspension, originally set to expire on 30 November, will now remain in effect until 31 December.
The same pause applies to the enhanced rate at Kamalapur ICD. The decision is tied to CPA board resolution no 19739 adopted on 27 November.
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The four-times charge was first introduced on 10 March at Chattogram Port, Kamalapur ICD and Pangaon ICT to deter importers from leaving their boxes in the yards for weeks.
The port had been struggling with importers who delayed clearance to hold back supply and influence market prices. Under the new rates, storage fees jumped to $24-$96 per day for a 20-foot container and $48-$192 for a 40-foot container.
Normally, containers enjoy four days of free storage after unloading. After that, daily charges begin at $6 for a 20-foot unit and $12 for a 40-foot unit, rising gradually to $24 and $48 by the third week.
But the logistics chain has been under strain since mid-2024. Vessel bunching, customs delays and inland transport bottlenecks have slowed clearance across the board, leaving many traders unable to move boxes within the deadline.
Importers argued that enforcing the four-times penalty amid those disruptions would only inflate costs and clog the yards further.
Responding to the pressure, the CPA first suspended the higher rent on 26 August for one month, then renewed the suspension in September and again in October. This latest decision marks the fourth extension.
CPA officials said the goal is straightforward: keep storage space from tightening during the busiest shipment period of December.
By holding off on the penal rate, the port hopes importers will move containers out promptly rather than wait for costs to pile up.
The authority has urged importers to clear FCL containers from both Chattogram Port and Kamalapur ICD as quickly as possible to maintain smooth operations.
