Chittagong Port has taken a significant step to enhance its container handling capabilities by adding 15 state-of-the-art four-high straddle carriers to its fleet, at a cost of Taka 123.63 crore. The new equipment was brought in aboard the vessel J Yang from China and berthed at the port on Wednesday morning, according to Md Nasir Uddin, acting secretary of the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA).
These advanced four-high straddle carriers are specialised machines capable of transporting, lifting, and stacking containers up to four units high, streamlining container handling operations. With this addition, the port now operates a total of 53 four-high and seven two-high straddle carriers, further increasing its capacity to manage rising export demands.
The expansion comes at a crucial time for Bangladesh’s ready-made garment (RMG) sector, which accounts for a significant portion of the country’s export volume. May 2025 saw a remarkable 27.66 per cent increase in export container handling through Chittagong Port compared to April, with a total of 94,780 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of export-laden containers processed, an increase of 20,532 TEUs. This surge is largely driven by garment manufacturers rushing shipments ahead of Eid-ul-Adha on 7th June, aiming to avoid holiday delays and meet international demand.
Year-on-year, export container handling grew by 13 per cent, with a rise of 9,692 TEUs compared to May 2024. Overall, the port handled 270,902 TEUs in May 2025, up 10.87 per cent from the previous year. The increased capacity from the new straddle carriers is expected to further accelerate export operations, allowing garment exporters to ship goods more efficiently and meet growing global orders.
Chittagong Port manages approximately 92 per cent of Bangladesh’s total import-export activities and handles over 3.2 million TEUs annually. The port’s strategic importance is underscored by its role in supporting the country’s dominant RMG industry, which heavily relies on timely and efficient container handling for exports. Most garment products are packed into containers at 19 private inland container depots (ICDs) in the region before being transported to the port.
Industry leaders, including Ruhul Amin Sikder of the Bangladesh Inland Container Depot Association, have noted a steady growth in export volumes, averaging about 10 per cent monthly in 2024. The recent infrastructure upgrade with new straddle carriers is expected to bolster this growth, enabling faster turnaround times for shipments and helping Bangladeshi RMG exporters stay competitive in the global market.
With the first 11 months of the current fiscal year recording over 3 million TEUs handled by Chattogram Port and associated ICDs, the port’s enhanced capacity will be vital in sustaining Bangladesh’s robust garment export trajectory, especially during peak seasons like Eid. The combined efforts of infrastructure investments and increased operational efficiency position Chattogram Port as a critical hub for Bangladesh’s apparel industry’s continued global expansion.
