Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) delivered its strongest-ever performance in 2025, posting record revenue, surplus earnings and historic highs in container, cargo and vessel handling. Also in cementing Chattogram Port’s position as the backbone of Bangladesh trade and logistics despite labour unrest, customs work stoppages and political uncertainty.
According to official data, CPA’s 2025 revenue surged to Tk5,460.18 crore, up 7.55% year-on-year, while the revenue surplus climbed 7.51% to Tk3,142.68 crore. Nearly 85% of total income came from vessel services, container handling and cargo operations, reinforcing the port’s role as one of the largest revenue-generating state institutions in Bangladesh.
On the operational front, Chattogram Port achieved all-time records across key indicators in 2025. The port handled 34.09 lakh TEUs of containers, 13.82 crore tonnes of cargo, and 4,273 vessels during the year. Compared with 2024, container throughput rose 4.07%, cargo volume jumped 11.43%, and vessel handling increased 10.50%, adding 1.33 lakh TEUs, 1.42 crore tonnes of cargo and 406 additional vessels year-on-year. The milestone of crossing 34 lakh TEUs marked a historic breakthrough for Bangladesh’s busiest seaport, which currently handles 92% of the country’s general cargo and around 98% of containerised import-export trade.
Also Read : NBR Puts 100 Exporters Under Financial Scanner in Major Bond Misuse Crackdown
Growth momentum was also evident at terminals operated by Chittagong Dry Dock Limited (CDDL). During July–December of FY2025–26, CDDL-run terminals handled 6,98,668 TEUs, reflecting a 10.19% increase from the same period a year earlier. The terminals processed 64,620 additional TEUs, with October posting a sharp 20.15% growth, driven by new cargo-handling equipment, expanded yards, improved IT systems and enhanced operational management.
Despite customs pen-down strikes and nationwide disruptions, port efficiency improved significantly in 2025. Vessel waiting time dropped to zero on multiple occasions, allowing ships to receive berthing on arrival. From January to November, average vessel turnaround time fell to 2.53 days, while average container dwell time stood at 9.44 days, sharply reducing port lead time. Faster clearance and turnaround have supported smoother import-export flows, reduced logistics costs, eased inflationary pressure and strengthened export shipments, particularly for the readymade garment sector, boosting foreign exchange earnings.
The record performance translated into a higher contribution to public finances. In 2025, CPA paid Tk1,804.47 crore to the national exchequer, ranking it among Bangladesh’s top revenue-contributing state entities. Over the last five fiscal years, the authority’s cumulative direct and indirect contributions reached Tk12,349.50 crore, with annual payments rising from Tk1,095.54 crore to Tk1,829.45 crore, reflecting 14.77% growth in the most recent fiscal year and underscoring the strategic economic importance of Chattogram Port to Bangladesh’s economy.
