How is Chittagong port doing?
Chittagong is the main port of Bangladesh, a lot of politics and plannings going on with this port!
By Karim Md Rezaul | February 18th, 2012
Now there is no more congestion
in the deep-sea port waiting for downloading consignments in the Chittagong port. Recently
it is experienced that 50% of the 16 jetties have vacant for want of ships. On
an average everyday four jetties are standing idle. This was the picture in the
last November month. In 2010-2011 fiscal year 22% increment was found in
handling containers in this seaport in comparison with the same previous year.
But this year the picture is reverse- container carrying declined affecting the
revenue earning of the port authority. The other linked business enterprises
like container handling firms, depots, and Jetty authorities have been losing
their revenues.
Ninety five percent of Bangladeshi goods are imported through Chittagong port. In this year on average 92 container ships were voyaging, in the last three months data depicts only 68 container ships have been engaged with Chittagong port. According to port authorities statistics- in the current fiscal quarter (July –October 2011) 4,28, 595 container units were used in import-exporting goods in Chittagong port, which was 4,74,933 in the same previous year. It could be interpreted as 10% decline in foreign trades in one year.
To be noted that containers are mostly used to carry garments products and it’s all other accessories and related raw materials. So, container carrying declining means declining business, and down economy. Chittagong port is alive due to garments sector, in the July-August period; garments carrying containers were relatively better. During this period every month on an average garment products were exported 194,000 tons. But in September this rate declined further, 150,000tons. In monetary term the export development bureau could not achieve its estimated target in this period. Apart from garments export other players like frozen fish, jut and jut products also could not do any better fruits.
In Chittagong there are 16 private container depots are busy with handling 17 types of importing goods, and store empty containers. Experts say, in the last few months depots have got 30% lesser works than usual.So, private container depots are in recession too!
