Chittagong sees crippling congestion
Shipping lines are facing long unloading delays of at Bangladesh's busiest port due to poor productivity and congestion, according to a report Thursday by IFW.
Delays are stretching from seven to 14 days at the Port of Chittagong, through which 90 percent of Bangladesh's containerized trade passes. Bangladesh is a key provider of apparel and textiles to western markets, and was one of the few nations to see growth in during the global economic downturn.
But Chittagong hasn't been able to keep pace with that growth, a situation made worse by a move in May by the Chittagong Port Authority two to assume control of 12 berths previously operated by private stevedoring companies. Unloading times in March were two to three days, the report said.
