Bangladesh’s premier seaport, Chattogram, has fallen one spot in the global container handling rankings despite posting its highest-ever annual throughput in 2024.
According to Lloyd’s List: One Hundred Ports 2025, the London-based shipping news outlet, Chattogram port handled 3,275,627 TEUs in 2024, marking a 7.4% year-on-year growth from 3,050,793 TEUs in 2023. However, it slipped to the 68th position, as Saudi Arabia’s Dammam port edged ahead with 3,290,538 TEUs to claim 67th place.
China’s Shanghai port retained the global top spot with 51.5 million TEUs, followed by Singapore at second place.
In its commentary on Chattogram, Lloyd’s List noted: “Launch of Bangladesh’s first foreign-operated facility is hoped to mark a turning point in easing congestion and modernising operations.” Saudi operator Red Sea Gateway Terminal began managing the newly built Patenga Container Terminal (PCT) in June 2024.
Chattogram had managed to hold the 67th position in the 2024 edition despite a decline in volume in 2023. The port’s rankings have fluctuated in recent years—after seven years of steady improvement from 2014 to 2020, it slipped sharply in 2021 due to the pandemic’s impact on garment exports.
Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) Secretary Md Omar Faruk said they have not yet received the detailed report from Lloyd’s List.
Port users, however, pointed out that the rankings reflect only container throughput and do not capture overall efficiency or performance.