Chattogram Port, Bangladesh’s principal maritime gateway, recorded strong gains across all major operational indicators in 2025, reflecting its expanding role in supporting the country’s trade-led economic growth. Higher container and bulk cargo volumes, along with a sharp rise in vessel arrivals, marked the port’s best performance to date, according to data released by the Chattogram Port Authority (CPA).
Container handling at the port rose by just over 4 percent year on year, while overall cargo throughput and ship handling each increased by around 11 percent. During the 2025 calendar year, the port handled a total of 3.409 million TEUs of import and export containers—an increase of 133,442 TEUs, or 4.07 percent, compared with 2024. This represents the highest container volume ever recorded at the port.
Bulk cargo handling also posted robust growth. Open cargo throughput reached 138.15 million metric tonnes in 2025, up by 14.17 million tonnes, or 11.43 percent, from the previous year. Ship traffic showed a similarly strong trend, with 4,273 vessels calling at Chattogram Port during the year—406 more than in 2024—representing a 10.5 percent increase.
Md Omar Faruk, Director (Administration) of the Chattogram Port Authority, described 2025 as a landmark year for the port. “We handled around 3.4 million containers in the 2025 calendar year, the highest volume in the port’s history,” he told local media, adding that the achievements came despite operational challenges, including customs-related work stoppages.
Chattogram Port plays a critical role in Bangladesh’s external trade, handling about 92 percent of the country’s total import-export cargo and nearly 98 percent of its containerised trade, making it the backbone of national maritime commerce.
Historical data underline the port’s steady growth trajectory. Container handling rose from 2.83 million TEUs in 2020 to 3.21 million in 2021, 3.14 million in 2022, 3.05 million in 2023, and 3.27 million in 2024, before reaching a record high in 2025. Bulk cargo volumes increased from 103.21 million tonnes in 2020 to 120.23 million tonnes in 2023 and 123.98 million tonnes in 2024. Ship arrivals have also trended upward over the period, despite minor fluctuations.
According to Omar, operational improvements were central to the port’s performance. Yard expansion, faster cargo handling, capacity enhancement initiatives, digitalisation of processes, and close supervision of port staff all contributed to improved efficiency and throughput. These measures also translated into higher revenues.
In 2025, the Chattogram Port Authority earned Tk 54.6 billion in revenue, a year-on-year increase of 7.55 percent, while contributing Tk 18.04 billion to the national exchequer.
Looking ahead, Omar said the port’s focus will extend beyond growth alone. “Our goal is to accelerate development while supporting a sustainable, inclusive, and innovation-driven maritime economy,” he said, adding that Chattogram Port aims to play a key role in positioning Bangladesh as an emerging global trading hub.
