Chittagong Port retains 68th position in the world’s top 100 container ports

Chittagong Port maintained its 68th position in the world’s top 100 container port rankings in container handling. The ranking, which reflects container throughput at ports worldwide for 2025, was released by Lloyd’s List, a London-based shipping and ports publication, in its latest special report titled “Lloyd’s List: One Hundred Ports 2026.”

As per the report, Chittagong Port processed 3,409,069 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of containers in 2025, an increase from 3,275,627 TEUs in 2024. The port dropped one position to 68th in the 2025 ranking after holding the 67th position for two consecutive years. Despite achieving a record volume of container handling in 2024, Chittagong’s ranking declined as other ports experienced more rapid growth.

Lloyd’s List noted that growth at Chittagong has been constrained; however, significant investments from APM Terminals, MSC and Red Sea Gateway are transforming the future of Bangladesh’s primary container port. The Saudi Arabia-based Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT) commenced partial operations at the newly constructed Patenga Container Terminal (PCT) at Chittagong Port in June 2024 and initiated full-scale operations at the terminal this year. In addition, Danish terminal operator APM Terminals is poised to start construction of the Laldia Container Terminal this month, with the foundation stone for the terminal set to be laid on Sunday.

China’s Shanghai Port retained its leading position after handling 55,062,500 TEUs in 2025, while Singapore Port secured the second spot.

Historical data indicate that Chittagong Port has experienced considerable fluctuations in its Lloyd’s List ranking over the past decade. In the 2024 edition, based on 2023 data, the port held on to the 67th position despite a 2.9% decrease in container handling. In the 2023 edition, using 2022 data, Chittagong fell three positions to 67th place after processing 3,142,504 TEUs, reflecting a 2.2% decrease from the previous year. The port had risen three positions to 64th in 2022. Prior to this, Chittagong had consistently improved for seven consecutive years, before declining nine places to 67th in the 2021 edition, based on 2020 data, primarily due to disruptions in garment exports caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The port was ranked 58th in 2020, 64th in 2019, 70th in 2018, 71st in 2017, 76th in 2016, 87th in 2015 and 86th in 2014.

Nevertheless, port users argue that the Lloyd’s List ranking should not be regarded as a comprehensive indicator of a port’s overall performance, emphasising that the ranking is predominantly based on container throughput, meaning a port may drop in the rankings even if its operational capacity or efficiency improves, provided other ports experience more rapid growth. For Chittagong, the recent investments in new terminals are anticipated to enhance handling capacity and transform its standing in global rankings in the years ahead.

Mohammad Amirul Haque, president of the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said there is no room for complacency at the port, adding that the commendation should go to port users, particularly the importers, industrialists, investors and general public, who have helped the port uphold its position despite numerous challenges, including economic downturns and the dollar crisis. He said that according to the Lloyd’s List report, with APM Terminals, MSC and Red Sea Gateway set to make significant investments, he believes that if the Bay Terminal is launched, Chittagong Port could rank among the top 20 ports globally.