Chattogram port has announced a significant tariff hike across various services, averaging around 40%, marking the first such increase in nearly 40 years. The updated rates officially came into effect on Sunday after the government released a gazette notification late Sunday night (14th September).
Md Omar Faruk, Secretary of the Chattogram Port Authority (CPA), confirmed that the revised tariff schedule is now in force. He noted, however, that the increase is unlikely to have a substantial impact on commodity prices.
“Currently, importers pay Taka 0.32 per kilogram of goods as tariff. Under the new rates, this will rise to Taka 0.44, a Taka 0.12 increase. We believe this change will not significantly influence commodity prices or inflation,” Faruk stated.
The tariff adjustment signifies a historic development for Bangladesh’s primary trade port, potentially impacting export competitiveness and raising import costs during a period when many businesses are already facing financial pressures.
The last time tariffs at the port increased was in 1986. After nearly four decades, the government’s interim administration approved the new tariffs despite considerable resistance from port users.
The CPA initially proposed the hike in June, which led to protests from trade organizations and shipping agents. A meeting organized by the shipping ministry on 25th August saw port users argue that tariffs should be increased gradually, suggesting a rise of only 10% to 15%.
Despite this feedback, the final decision largely mirrored the CPA’s original proposal, with little room for compromise.
Industry representatives expressed concerns about the impact of the increase. Khairul Alam Sujon, Vice President of the Bangladesh Freight Forwarders Association and a director of the Shipping Agents Association, said, “This will pose challenges for both importers and exporters. We had requested a moderate increase, but the authorities went ahead with a 40% rise. The additional costs will eventually burden businesses and consumers alike.”
The updated tariffs affect 23 out of the 52 service categories currently in place at the port. The most notable increase is in container handling charges, which have risen from Taka 11,849 to Taka 16,243 for a 20-foot container, a jump of Taka 4,395, approximately 37%.
Tariffs for container vessels have increased by Taka 5,720 per import container and Taka 3,045 per export container. Additionally, handling charges for loading and unloading containers have gone up by roughly Taka 3,000 per container.
The tariff on containerized cargo has also escalated from Taka 1.28 to Taka 1.75 per kilogram, reflecting the port’s broad move to recalibrate its fee structure after decades without adjustments.
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