Chattogram Port sets new record in container handling, aims for 3.7 million TEUs by 2025
CHATTOGRAM : Chattogram Port has achieved a historic milestone in container operations, following a record-high performance at the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) in August. The port now aims to increase its annual handling capacity to 3.7 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) by the end of 2025.
Captain Md Zahid Hossain, Chief Operating Officer of NCT, announced the ambitious target during a press conference on September 3. He highlighted that the terminal processed 122,517 TEUs in August, representing a remarkable 27.6% increase compared to August 2024, when it handled 96,000 TEUs.
The improved performance is attributed to enhanced operational efficiency following the management takeover by Chittagong Dry Dock Limited (CDDL) on 7th July . Captain Hossain explained that streamlined procedures have significantly reduced vessel turnaround times and waiting periods at the outer anchorage, leading to higher productivity. These improvements have accelerated container and vessel handling, contributing to the record-breaking figures.
If this momentum continues, the port’s management is confident it can reach the 3.7 million TEU target by 2025, up from 3.275 million TEUs handled in 2024, a 7.4% increase from 2023’s 3.05 million TEUs. The success is supported by CDDL’s efficient management, optimal utilization of equipment, and rigorous maintenance practices, positioning Chattogram as a more competitive regional hub.
However, Captain Hossain noted that the decision regarding the long-term operation of the terminal by CDDL will depend on policymakers.
Despite the positive growth, Chattogram Port’s global ranking slipped slightly, falling from 58th in 2019 to 68th in the Lloyd’s List One Hundred Ports 2025. In 2025, the Port of Dammam in Saudi Arabia surpassed it with 3.29 million TEUs, moving into 67th place.
As Bangladesh’s primary gateway, handling over 90% of the country’s international trade, Chattogram Port remains vital to the national economy. The New Mooring Terminal, inaugurated in 2007 with five berths, is the port’s largest container facility.
The port has historically faced challenges such as congestion, vessel delays, and slow container delivery, which have affected exporters and importers. To address these issues, the government has been pushing reforms and encouraging public-private partnerships aimed at improving operational efficiency. The handover of the New Mooring Terminal to CDDL, a state-owned enterprise specializing in shipbuilding and dockyard operations, is part of this strategic effort to reduce vessel turnaround times, enhance container handling, and restore the port’s status as a reliable regional logistics hub.