Cargo logjam for years eating up 40% of Ctg Port’s capacity

Chattogram Port, Bangladesh's primary maritime hub, is grappling with a growing backlog of stranded import cargo, siphoning 40% of the port's operational capacity, according to Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) data as of June 30, 2026. A staggering 9,330 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of containers, occupying 22% of the port yard, remain stuck, limiting the port's turnover and causing significant economic losses.

The cumulative value of stranded cargo now exceeds $2 billion, with an additional $1.5 billion attributed to container and shipping line losses, and storage rent alone amounting to $1 billion. The cumulative damage is projected to exceed $5 billion, with the CPA arguing that removing auctionable cargo could boost the port's revenue by over $1 billion.

The CPA has appealed to the National Board of Revenue (NBR) chairman to expedite the clearance of these stranded goods, stressing that the accumulated port storage charges amount to Tk8,000-Tk10,000 crore (approximately $1 billion). Removing these goods could facilitate an additional 40% capacity increase without any extra infrastructure investment, thereby accelerating trade activities and boosting government revenue.

The chronic issue has been attributed to customs inefficiency, protracted valuation disputes, and the charging of penalties for goods awaiting assessments. Customs officials reported that over 600 cases are currently pending with courts, further complicating the clearance process.

Business leaders have called for urgent action, alleging that certain commercial goods have been languishing at the port for twenty-three years and have deteriorated beyond usability. Urgent structural reforms are required to avert significant losses, restore efficiency, and enhance the port's reputation among the international shipping fraternity.