After a vessel enters Bangladesh’s maritime boundary, port authorities collect specific tariffs for the services it receives. Currently, tariffs are collected under 52 key service categories (line items), but under the new tariff proposal, these have been consolidated into 23 categories. As part of this, four types of services have been discontinued, while five new services have been added. As a result, the tariffs on these essential services—linked to import and export activities—will increase by an average of up to 40 percent. The proposal has already received approval from the Ministry of Finance and is now under review by the Ministry of Law. Once approved and published in the official gazette, the increased tariffs will take effect. This marks the first comprehensive tariff hike by the Chattogram Port Authority since 1986.
According to the Ministry of Shipping, the current charge for product stuffing is $2.73. Once the new tariff is implemented, it will rise to $6.41. The lift-on/lift-off service, which now costs $5.46, will increase to $8.12. Similarly, under the new rates, port dues will be $0.31, pilotage will be $800 for a 10,000 GRT vessel, truck charges will be $3,415 for vessels over 20,000 GRT, and gantry crane use will be $20.80 for a 20-foot container and $31.20 for containers over 20 feet.
Space rent will begin at $0.91 for the first month, increasing to $1.10 in the second month, and $1.37 in the third, continuing to rise over time. For loading and discharging, charges will be $68 for a 20-foot FCL container, $103 for containers over 20 feet, and $115 for those over 40 feet. For empty containers, the fee will be $34 for up to 20 feet, $51 for over 20 feet, and $57 for over 40 feet.
After a four-day free time period, store rent will be applicable. For up to 28 days, the fee will be $6.90 for 20-foot containers and $13.80 for 40-foot containers. After 28 days, the charges will rise to $27.60 for 20-foot containers and $55.20 for 40-foot containers.
Adviser to the Ministry of Shipping, Brigadier General (Retd.) M Sakhawat Hussain, said, “This is the first time tariff is being increased since 1986. The government wants to further enhance the capacity of the port. Nowhere else in the world are shipping services as affordable as in Chattogram Port. The old tariff structure is in no way compatible with today’s demands and expenses. That’s why a realistic and timely tariff structure has been prepared after discussions with all stakeholders.”
When a vessel with imported goods arrives in Chattogram Port’s territorial waters, a series of activities are carried out until the goods are delivered. These include sending a pilot to bring the vessel from the outer anchorage to the jetty, tugboat service, water supply, crane charges, berthing, container unloading or loading, and final delivery. For each of these services, the port authority charges a fixed fee. This fee structure is known as the port’s tariff.
Business leaders are criticizing the move to raise tariffs all at once, rather than in phases. They argue that if the increase had been implemented gradually instead of a 40 percent hike in one go, it would have been less burdensome. Many are also questioning how acceptable this increase is without first addressing issues such as handling time, clearance processes, and congestion. According to the business community, they are already under pressure due to rising dollar prices, higher import costs, and declining demand. The new tariffs at the port will now further increase expenses, which could negatively impact commodity prices.
Amirul Haque, Managing Director of Premier Cement PLC, told Bonik Barta, “Given the current global and domestic economic realities, a sudden 40 percent tariff hike is undoubtedly a blow to businesses. We believe the pressure would have been more manageable if the increase had been implemented in phases. With the dollar rising, import costs have already gone up, and demand is declining. In this situation, the additional port charges will increase our production costs, and eventually, that burden will fall on the consumers.”
Khairul Alam Sujan, Director of Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association, told Bonik Barta, “Many of the port services are paid in US dollars. When the Bangladeshi taka devalues against the dollar, tariffs at the port naturally go up. In 2008, the dollar rate was BDT 76, and we paid accordingly. Now that rate has crossed BDT 120. So we’ve already been paying more for every service. A further increase in port tariffs will directly impact product prices and production costs. This will not only raise the price of imports but also create risks to our competitiveness in exports.”
However, the Chattogram Port Authority has said the decision to adjust charges after such a long time was driven by rising expenses in infrastructure development, security, equipment maintenance, and employee salaries and benefits.
Chattogram Port Secretary Md Omar Faruk told Bonik Barta, “Businesses are saying they’re already paying more because of the taka’s depreciation against the dollar. But the port also makes its purchases in dollars—so our expenses have increased too. Our operating costs have risen significantly over time. Management costs, security, technology, and employee salaries have all gone up. With the new tariffs, the charges will increase at different rates for different services, but on average, the hike will be around 40 percent. The revenue from these tariffs will be used for port development and service expansion, which will directly benefit port users.”
Earlier last week, the Bangladesh Inland Container Depots Association (BICDA) announced a hike in container handling charges. When a vessel enters port territory, it incurs river dues. Similarly, exports leaving the port are also subject to river dues. Docking fees are determined based on the volume of cargo imported and exported. Additionally, ships docking from outer anchorage are charged piloting fees, equipment usage fees, container handling charges, yard storage fees, and other service fees. The port operates as a self-financing institution using income from these charges. It funds its own development activities, including the construction of new jetties and terminals and equipment procurement.
Chattogram Port has been operating under the same old tariff structure for nearly four decades. The current tariffs were originally set in 1986. Although charges for five services were revised in FY 2007–08, a comprehensive tariff restructuring was never carried out. A plan to revise the tariff structure was taken in 2013, but was later suspended. The process resumed in 2019, leading to the appointment of Spain-based consulting firm IDOM Consulting, Engineering and Architecture, along with Bangladesh’s Logicforum Limited, in 2022 to review and propose a new tariff framework. The consultants were tasked with aligning the tariffs with international standards, ensuring fair and competitive pricing for users, and supporting revenue growth and service improvement at the port. They developed a comprehensive proposal based on data collection, analysis, and consultations with stakeholders, which was later approved by the Ministry of Finance.