DOT Desk: The Chittagong port set a new record of handling container in 2018 with the increase of 11.6 per cent compare to 2017, reports The Independent.
The country’s premier port handled 25,66,597 TUES (twenty-foot equivalent units) of import, export and empty containers in 2017 while the port handled 25,66,597 TUES in 2018 which is 3,37,399 more.
At the same time the cargo handling has increased compare to the last year. In 2017 the port has handled 7, 82, 08,540 metric tonnes export and import while in 2018 it has increased to 9, 63, 11,224 metric tonnes. The overall growth in cargo handling is 12.98 per cent.
Though the container handling has increased, the growth in container handling has decreased 1.2per cent in 2018 compare to the previous year. In 2017 the growth in container was 10 per cent while it deceased to 8.8 per cent in 2018.
The exports and the port users said the port authorities have taken more steps to keep up its ongoing growth in container and cargo handling.
The country’s 90 per cent of export and import were held through Chittagong port.
All types of commercial and non-commercial items including raw materials are imported and exported using containers in the Chittagong port.
The port was suffering container congestion, however, last year the port authorities added many equipments in its fleet to expedite the container handling. For the first time Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) introduced Rail Mounted Granty Crane at Jetty No.5 of Nwemooring Container Terminal (NCT) for loading and unloading container by carrying railway. They also added six rubber tyred gantry cranes, one log handler, and two mobile cranes spending Tk96.54 crore.
Contacted, Zafor Alam, member (Admin) of Chittagong Port Authority (CPA), told The Independent, “We have found the positive trend following the installation new equipments in the fleet of the port.”
Terming the growth as a positive indicator for the country’s economy, Gias Uddin, former president of Junior Chamber, suggested upgrading the port’s capacity in order to meet the challenges of future.
“If we can introduce the new technology and equipments in Chittagong port it would be a modern port in the world,” said Khairul Alam Sujan, president of Freight Forwarders Association Bangladesh.
As per the Lloyd’s List, Chittagong Port is the 70th busiest container port in the world.
All sorts of industrial raw materials—except those used in the cement and ceramics sectors—along with commercial items, machinery, commodity and chemical products are imported through containers while export goods are solely carried through containers.