Chittagong Port, the principal maritime gateway of Bangladesh and widely regarded as the lifeline of the country’s economy, has achieved record-breaking container handling figures in the financial year 2024–2025 despite facing a series of significant operational disruptions.

According to port authority data, the port processed 3,171,779 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) up to June 15, registering a 4.63 per cent increase compared to the 3,168,690 TEUs handled in the entire previous financial year (2023–2024).

With over two weeks remaining before the financial year closes on June 30, the port has already surpassed its previous annual total — a strong indication of continued growth momentum.

The Chittagong Port Authority, in a press release issued on 16 June, said that the port’s achievement had come despite nearly two months of serious operational disruptions caused by July Uprising, prolonged monsoon flooding, successive Eid holidays, pen-down strikes by customs officials and nationwide transport stoppages.

The authority attributed the port’s resilience to a series of efficiency-focused reforms, including the introduction of electronic gate pass systems, modernisation of container tracking and operational software and ongoing infrastructure improvements aimed at streamlining cargo movement.

It also highlighted the crucial role played by port users — such as importers, exporters and freight forwarders — noting that their proactive communication, timely container collection and close cooperation with port officials had helped mitigate the impact of external disruptions.

In a broader context, the authority noted that the port had handled 3,007,375 TEUs in FY 2022–2023, reflecting a steady upward trend in cargo throughput.

Looking ahead, the Port Authority expressed optimism that if the current pace of container handling continued, Chittagong Port could end FY2024–2025 with a record high in throughput.