Bangladesh’s principal maritime gateway delivered its strongest performance to date in 2025, as the Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) posted record revenue and historic highs across all major operational indicators.
According to official data, the port earned Tk5,460.18 crore in revenue during the 2025 calendar year, representing a 7.55 percent increase compared to the previous year. The revenue surplus also climbed to Tk3,142.68 crore, up 7.51 percent year on year. Around 85 percent of total earnings came from vessel-related services alongside cargo and container handling, highlighting the port’s central role in the national economy.
The milestone performance came despite a challenging year marked by labour unrest, customs pen-down strikes and wider political uncertainty, underscoring the port’s operational resilience.
Historic highs in containers, cargo and vessels
Operationally, Chattogram Port achieved all-time records in 2025. Container handling reached 34,09,069 TEUs, while cargo throughput stood at 13,81,51,812 tonnes. The port also handled 4,273 vessels during the year, the highest annual figure in its history.
Compared to 2024, container throughput rose by 4.07 percent, cargo handling increased by 11.43 percent, and vessel traffic grew by 10.50 percent. In real terms, this meant an additional 1,33,442 TEUs, 1.42 crore tonnes of cargo, and 406 more vessels year on year. Notably, annual container volume crossed the 34 lakh TEU mark for the first time ever.
Currently, nearly 92 percent of Bangladesh’s general cargo and about 98 percent of containerised import-export cargo pass through Chattogram Port, reinforcing its dominance in the country’s trade and logistics network.
Strong momentum at CDDL-operated terminals
Container terminals run by Chittagong Dry Dock Limited recorded solid growth in the first half of the 2025–26 fiscal year. From July to December, these terminals handled 6,98,668 TEUs, up 10.19 percent from 6,34,048 TEUs in the same period a year earlier.
The terminals processed 64,620 additional TEUs during the six months, with October emerging as the strongest month, posting 20.15 percent growth. CPA attributed the gains to the deployment of modern cargo-handling equipment, yard expansion, wider adoption of information technology and coordinated efforts by port officials, workers and users.
Faster turnaround improves trade efficiency
Operational efficiency also improved notably in 2025. Vessel waiting times declined sharply, with ships experiencing zero waiting days on multiple occasions, including nine days in September, 18 days in October, and 26 days each in November and December.
From January to November, the average vessel turnaround time stood at 2.53 days, while average container dwell time was 9.44 days. Officials said the faster turnaround reduced overall port lead time, enabling quicker delivery for importers and timely shipments for exporters.
The improved efficiency is expected to help stabilise consumer prices, support export growth, especially in the readymade garment sector, and contribute to stronger foreign exchange earnings.
Rising contribution to the national exchequer
The port’s record performance also translated into higher government revenue. In 2025, CPA paid Tk1,804.47 crore to the national exchequer, making it one of Bangladesh’s largest revenue-contributing state entities.
Over the last five fiscal years, CPA’s total direct and indirect contributions, including various taxes and levies, reached Tk12,349.50 crore. Annual contributions increased from Tk1,095.54 crore in the first year to Tk1,829.45 crore in the fifth year, reflecting 14.77 percent growth in the most recent fiscal year.
