Chittagong port witnesses 13% fall in export container handling

In October, the handling of export containers at Chittagong port decreased by 13% compared to September, largely due to strikes by transport drivers and garment workers. The port managed 66,932 TEUs of export containers, down from 75,603 TEUs in the prior month.

Transport disruptions included two strikes by prime mover and trailer drivers, lasting 32 and 23 hours respectively, which halted the movement of containers to and from the port. This led to delays for some vessels as containers couldn’t reach the port from depots or factory sites on time. These trailers and prime movers are critical for transporting containers from factories and inland depots to the port, as well as from the port to off-dock facilities and warehouses.

Meanwhile, garment workers in Dhaka protested throughout October, with clashes leading to injuries and the burning of law enforcement vehicles. These protests, sparked by wage disputes, further disrupted production and slowed the transport of imported materials for factories.

Despite these challenges, October saw a slight increase in import container handling, with the port processing 120,225 TEUs of imported containers, up 2.34% from September’s 118,402 TEUs. Chittagong port, which handles 98% of Bangladesh’s seaborne trade, also managed 6,662 TEUs of empty import boxes and 53,895 TEUs of empty export boxes.
Ruhul Amin Sikder, secretary general of the Bangladesh Inland Container Depot Association (BICDA), noted that container handling was expected to rise in October compared to September, but the strikes and disruptions led to a decline instead. He suggested that garment orders may have dropped following student protests in July and August, contributing to the lower-than-expected performance at both the port and container depots, which usually handle nearly all outbound.