Ctg Port drops to 68th despite 4.1pc growth
Chattogram Port handled a record 3.41 million TEUs of containers in 2025, marking a 4.1% year-on-year increase, but slipped one place to 68th in the global ranking of container ports.
The ranking, based on container throughput in 2025, was published by London-based shipping and ports publication Lloyd’s List in its latest special report, One Hundred Ports 2026.
According to the report, Chattogram Port handled 3,409,069 TEUs in 2025, compared with 3,275,627 TEUs in 2024.
Despite the increase in container handling, the port dropped from 67th to 68th position after retaining the 67th spot for two consecutive years. The decline reflects faster growth at several other ports rather than a fall in Chattogram’s container throughput.
Lloyd’s List said growth at Chattogram remained limited, while major investments by APM Terminals, MSC and Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT) are expected to reshape the future of Bangladesh’s main container port.
RSGT, a Saudi Arabia-based terminal operator, began partial operations at the newly built Patenga Container Terminal (PCT) in June 2024 and started full-scale operations this year.
Meanwhile, Danish terminal operator APM Terminals is scheduled to begin construction of the Laldia Container Terminal this month. The foundation stone for the terminal is scheduled to be laid on Sunday.
The latest investments are expected to expand Chattogram’s container-handling capacity and potentially improve its position in future global rankings.
Shanghai Port retained the top position globally after handling 55,062,500 TEUs in 2025, while Singapore Port ranked second.
Chattogram Port’s global position has fluctuated significantly over the past decade. It ranked 67th in the 2024 edition, based on 2023 data, despite a 2.9% decline in container handling.
In the 2023 edition, based on 2022 data, the port slipped three places to 67th after handling 3,142,504 TEUs, down 2.2% from the previous year. It had moved up three places to 64th in 2022.
Before that, Chattogram had advanced for seven consecutive years. However, it dropped nine places to 67th in the 2021 edition, based on 2020 data, as the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted garment exports and reduced container handling.
The port ranked 58th in 2020, 64th in 2019, 70th in 2018, 71st in 2017, 76th in 2016, 87th in 2015 and 86th in 2014.
Port users, however, caution that the Lloyd’s List ranking should not be viewed as a complete assessment of a port’s overall performance.
The ranking is primarily based on container throughput, meaning a port can move down the list even when its capacity or operational efficiency improves if other ports record faster growth.
For Chattogram, the expansion of terminal facilities and ongoing investment are expected to increase capacity and could strengthen the port’s position in the global container shipping rankings in the coming years.
