Close on the heels of the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) doubling the storage rents on 8 March — CPA, reportedly, imposed the new rates for importers who fail to release their goods within 11 days of unloading — container numbers have come down to 3,658 within eight days, claimed media reports.
If the current trend continues, the number of containers will decrease further, the report added further even as the clearing and forwarding (C&F) agents and the entrepreneurs, reportedly, held rather than slapping fines, the port authorities find another way in resolving the container congestion, which will benefit both consumers and businesses as they felt imposing fines could lead to price hikes.
Meanwhile, reports suggest Chittagong Port can accommodate maximum of 49,018 containers even as the port officials underlined that 15 per cent of the port’s capacity had to be kept unused so as to facilitate smooth operations, failing which there is, reportedly, risk of container-laden vehicles meeting with accidents if the 15 per cent space was occupied.
As per the new move of the CPA, importers can, reportedly, store containers in the port yard without any charge for four days (after unloading), post which a 20-foot container would be charged US $ 6 per day for the first week, and US $ 12 per day for the second week while from the third week, the charge would increase to US $ 24 per day even as the regular container rents will double for importers who fail to release consignments after 11 days of the common landing and as per the new rates, importers will have to pay US $ 24 daily for the first week after 11 days, and US $ 48/day after 21 days.
