Chittagong Port Faces Severe Congestion as Containers Stack up and Ships Wait Offshore

Chittagong Port, Bangladesh’s largest container gateway, is contending with extreme congestion as import-laden containers pile up in its storage yards, and ships queue offshore awaiting berths. Local industry sources report that yard capacity, designed for approximately 53,518 TEUs, is now overwhelmed with over 40,656 TEUs, following a sharp slowdown in deliveries during the Eid‑ul‑Azha holiday week.

The backlog is also evident at sea, where multiple vessels remain anchored, unable to dock due to full terminals. The congestion stems from weaker import clearances, compounded by holiday closures and customs delays, which have suppressed daily movement to below normal levels, under 2,000 TEUs per day during the festive period.

Exporters, particularly from the garment sector, are concerned about prolonged delays given the port’s importance to national trade. Although terminal operators have implemented prior measures to expedite departures, achieving a 48-hour vessel turnaround, authorities caution that if clearance volumes don’t rebound, the congestion could deepen, dragging on port operations.