Chattogram Port has retained its 68th position in the global ranking of the world’s top 100 container ports, despite recording a 4.1 percent increase in container handling in 2025.
London-based shipping publication Lloyd’s List has released its latest ranking, titled One Hundred Ports 2026, based on container throughput data for 2025.
According to the report, Chattogram Port handled around 3.409 million TEUs in 2025, compared with approximately 3.275 million TEUs in 2024, representing a growth of about 4 percent. Despite the increase in throughput, the port’s position in the global ranking remained unchanged.
Lloyd’s List noted that although Bangladesh’s container trade recorded relatively modest growth, major investments by APM Terminals, MSC and Red Sea Gateway are expected to reshape the future of the country’s principal container port.
The Lloyd’s List ranking is based solely on the volume of containers handled by ports and does not assess the quality or efficiency of port services.
However, container throughput is widely viewed as an indicator of economic activity, as a significant portion of raw materials and high-value goods are transported through containerised trade.
Shanghai remains at the top
China’s Shanghai Port retained the top position in the One Hundred Ports 2026 ranking. The port handled around 55 million TEUs in 2025, approximately 7 percent more than the previous year.
Singapore ranked second, while China’s Ningbo-Zhoushan Port took third place.
The world’s top 100 container ports handled a combined 792 million TEUs in 2025. Chinese ports accounted for more than 40 percent of the total, underscoring China’s continued dominance of global container trade.
Chattogram’s ranking has fluctuated
Chattogram Port has regularly featured among the world’s top 100 container ports in Lloyd’s List rankings. Around 99 percent of Bangladesh’s seaborne containerised trade passes through the port, with the remaining roughly 1 percent handled through Mongla Port.
The port has made significant progress in the global ranking over the years. It ranked 88th in 2010, 89th in 2011, 90th in 2012, 86th in 2013, 87th in 2014, 76th in 2015, 71st in 2016, 70th in 2017, 64th in 2018, 58th in 2019 and 67th in 2020.
In 2021, Chattogram moved up to 64th place before slipping to 67th in 2022 and 2023. It ranked 68th in 2024 and retained the same position in the latest ranking.
Chittagong Chamber President Mohammed Amirul Haque said fresh domestic and foreign investment is once again being directed towards the Chittagong Port area, with new terminals under development.
“If these terminals become operational, the port’s container-handling capacity will increase. This will also help improve Chittagong Port’s position in the Lloyd’s List ranking,” he said.
