Chattogram Port Sees 9% Drop in Import Costs

Bangladesh is projected to remain the world’s top cotton importer in MY2025-26, with imports reaching 8.5 million bales, ahead of Vietnam’s 8 million, according to the USDA. This surge aligns with a 10.86% year-on-year rise in Bangladesh’s RMG exports to $30.25 billion in the first 10 months of FY25.

Bangladesh's imports from Pakistan rose nearly 10% in 2024, reaching 19.14 lakh tonnes, driven by direct shipping and relaxed customs rules. The launch of the Karachi–Chattogram direct route in November 2024 cut delivery time from 30 to 11 days, slashing costs by a third. The National Board of Revenue (NBR) also eased customs inspections

The government of Bangladesh is planning to appoint globally experienced foreign firms to operate Chattogram Port and other key sea and land ports to address capacity limitations and reduce container congestion, as stated by Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam.

The Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) signed a Tk 61.96 billion contract with a Japanese joint venture (Penta-Ocean Construction and TOA Corporation) to build Bangladesh’s first deep-sea port at Matarbari, as part of the revised Tk 243.81 billion Matarbari Port Development Project.

The government has approved a major support project for the Bay Terminal at Chattogram port, focusing on marine infrastructure development with a budget of Tk 13,525.57 crore. The project, considered crucial for Bangladesh’s growing economy due to the lack of a true deep-sea port, will include building a breakwater and improving port connectivity.

The Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) has revised the cost of the Bay Terminal Marine Infrastructure Development Project to Tk13,525.27 crore—down from an initial estimate of Tk14,600 crore—following evaluation committee recommendations.