Despite the global economic slowdown, the revenue of Chattogram Port, widely regarded as the lifeline of Bangladesh’s economy, has been increasing significantly.
At the same time, container handling volumes have also risen. The port has achieved remarkable success in both revenue generation and revenue growth.
According to the port authority, this success has been achieved by reducing unnecessary expenditures while maintaining service quality. Alongside infrastructure development, timely policies have been introduced with consideration for port users’ needs, resulting in enhanced operational capacity.
A review of the port’s income, expenditure, and accumulated funds for fiscal years 2024–25 and 2025–26 shows that the port’s revenue surplus increased by more than 44 percent over two years. From July 2024 to May 2025, the port earned BDT 4,952.38 crore.
During the period from July 2025 to May 2026, revenue rose to BDT 6,076.73 crore, an increase of more than 22 percent in a single year. Through expenditure reductions during this period, the revenue surplus reached BDT 4,287.46 crore.
After tax payments and other expenses, the net revenue surplus stood at BDT 2,228 crore.
Analysis of the port’s income and expenditure over the last five years shows that in 2025, the Chattogram Port Authority earned BDT 5,460.18 crore in revenue while expenditures amounted to BDT 2,317.50 crore.
As a result, the revenue surplus reached BDT 3,142.68 crore—the highest in the past five years. In 2024, the port’s revenue was BDT 5,076.75 crore, expenditure was BDT 2,153.58 crore, and the revenue surplus stood at BDT 2,923.17 crore.
In previous years, the revenue surplus amounted to BDT 2,143.11 crore in 2023, BDT 1,734.20 crore in 2022, and BDT 1,633.26 crore in 2021.
The port authority stated that strict policies to eliminate unnecessary spending have kept revenue expenditure growth in single digits over the past two years. In 2025, expenditure growth was 7.61 percent compared to the previous year, while in 2024 it was 6.50 percent.
By comparison, expenditure growth was 10.18 percent in 2023 and 6.17 percent in 2022. Over the last five years, Chattogram Port deposited BDT 7,580.20 crore into the national treasury, including BDT 3,553.08 crore in taxes, BDT 3,427.12 crore in Value Added Tax (VAT), and BDT 600 crore in non-tax revenue (NTR).
Despite global economic uncertainty and various pressures on international trade, Chattogram Port achieved significant progress across all major indicators in 2025. During the year, container and cargo handling, vessel movements, revenue generation, and infrastructure expansion all experienced positive growth.
Notably, the port handled 3.4 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of containers in a single year. With growth rates of 4 percent in container handling and 11 percent each in cargo and vessel handling, the port surpassed all previous records, achieving the highest performance in its history.
According to data from the Chattogram Port Authority, container handling from January to December 2025 totaled 3,409,069 TEUs, compared to 3,275,627 TEUs in 2024. This represents an increase of 133,442 TEUs and a growth rate of 4.07 percent.
During the same year, the port handled 138.15 million metric tons of import-export cargo, compared to 123.98 million metric tons in 2024—an increase of 14.17 million metric tons.
Port sources indicate that in 2025, the authority managed 4,273 vessels arriving with import cargo and departing with export cargo, compared to 3,857 vessels in 2024. Vessel handling increased by 406 ships, representing a growth rate of 10.50 percent. These figures set new records in container, cargo, and vessel handling.
Previously, the port handled 2.84 million containers in 2020, 3.09 million in 2019, 2.90 million in 2018, and 2.67 million in 2017. Stakeholders attribute this success to the addition of modern equipment and increased yard capacity. Improvements in vessel management also resulted in multiple periods during 2025 when the average vessel waiting time at the port dropped to zero.
The port authority further stated that several modern pieces of equipment have been installed for cargo and container handling. In addition, the New Mooring Container Terminal is now operated by Chittagong Dry Dock Limited instead of a private operator.
Under this arrangement, container handling at the terminal increased by nearly 11 percent. Yard capacity has also expanded. Significant growth in cargo handling was driven by bulk cargo, which recorded growth of more than 13 percent in one year.
To improve transparency in port management, online e-Move Passes, online bill generation, and e-payment systems have been introduced. On December 23, 2025, a record 6,761 e-Move Passes were issued in a single day.
In recent times, challenges such as customs work stoppages, strikes, and the country’s evolving and fragile situation created various logistical difficulties.
However, the Chattogram Port Authority was able to overcome these challenges due to enhanced operational capabilities. Alongside recent infrastructure improvements, timely policies focused on user convenience have strengthened the port’s capacity.
The authority also noted that positive recognition from inspections conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard has confirmed that the port’s security system meets international standards.
As part of infrastructure development, a 70,000-square-meter yard has been constructed and new handling equipment acquired. Meanwhile, work is ongoing on the Matarbari Deep Sea Port Project and the Bay Terminal Project, which has an estimated cost of BDT 13,525.57 crore. Once completed, these projects are expected to transform Chattogram Port into a regional transshipment hub.
Commenting on the port’s record achievements, Rear Admiral S. M. Moniruzzaman, Chairman of the Chattogram Port Authority, told The Daily Ittefaq that the success is the result of strong leadership, effective management, and coordinated efforts by all stakeholders.
Reduced vessel turnaround times, improved berth utilization efficiency, enhanced terminal productivity, and expanded digital systems have significantly increased cargo and container handling. He added that the introduction of modern equipment and increased yard capacity have helped reduce vessel congestion.
At the same time, growth in Bangladesh’s imports and exports—particularly the expansion of the ready-made garment sector—has further accelerated port operations. Through the combined efforts of the port authority, customs, shipping agents, terminal operators, and transport stakeholders, Chattogram Port has set new benchmarks in efficiency, productivity, and service quality.