After a slowdown in April, import-export activities at Chattogram Port regained strong momentum in May, posting significant growth across key operational indicators. The country’s main seaport recorded double-digit increases in cargo handling, export shipments, and vessel arrivals, reflecting a resurgence in foreign trade ahead of the end of the fiscal year.
Data from the Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) show that a total of 12.3 million tonnes of import and export cargo were handled in May, compared with 11.07 million tonnes in April. The increase of 1.23 million tonnes represents an 11.15 per cent month-on-month growth.
The rise was driven primarily by higher import volumes, while exports also posted strong performance. Imported cargo handling reached 11.48 million tonnes in May, marking a 10.67 per cent increase from April. Export cargo handling climbed from 637,019 tonnes to 758,872 tonnes, registering a 19.13 per cent growth.
Port users attribute the recovery to increased imports ahead of Eid, growing demand for industrial raw materials, and higher export shipments from the ready-made garment sector.
President of the Chattogram Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mohammed Amirul Haque and Chairman of Seacom Group, told TIMES of Bangladesh that import volumes typically rise towards the end of the fiscal year.
“Businesses usually increase imports before the close of the fiscal year in June. As a result, import activities through Chattogram Port expanded significantly in May compared with the previous months,” he said. He expressed optimism that the upward trend would continue through June, adding that both import and export volumes could surpass May’s performance.
Mixed performance in container handling
Container operations presented a mixed picture. Chattogram Port handled 272,059 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) in May, slightly down from 275,024 TEUs in April, a 1.15 per cent decline.
The overall decrease was mainly due to lower import container volumes, which fell from 149,536 TEUs in April to 144,193 TEUs in May, a 3.57 per cent drop. Export container handling maintained its upward trajectory, increasing from 125,688 TEUs to 127,866 TEUs, a 1.73 per cent growth, underscoring the continued strength of the country’s export sector.
Vessel traffic records strong growth
The most notable improvement was in vessel handling. A total of 389 ships called at Chattogram Port in May, compared with 333 vessels in April. The arrival of 56 additional vessels pushed monthly growth in ship handling to 16.82 per cent, indicating increased trade activity and stronger demand for port services.
Five-month performance
An analysis of port operations from January to May shows cargo handling peaked at 13.02 million tonnes in January before slowing slightly during February, March, and April. May marked a strong recovery, while export cargo handling reached its highest level of the year.
During the first five months of 2026, Chattogram Port handled a total of 59.17 million tonnes of cargo, 1.35 million TEUs of containers, and 1,809 vessels.
