From tomorrow, container storage rent at the Chattogram port might be tripled for long-term stays as the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) tries to push importers to take supplies quickly and free up space. Importers have appeared to be delaying picking up their goods during the last few weeks. This was particularly noticeable among importers who use entire containers rather than those who share space within containers. The authorised space for individuals utilising entire containers had begun to fill up since early last month. On March 1, 36,397 TEUs were in that designated location, much above the 35,868 TEU limit.
Some of these containers remain lying there for nearly a month. Every year many importers who bring goods targeting the month of Ramadan effectively use the port as a warehouse, taking deliveries only when market prices turn favourable for them. This unnecessarily eats up space and eventually causes container congestion, hampering port operations at a time when the port sees an influx of commodities.
For the first four days after a ship is freed of all cargo that needs to be unloaded, there is no storage rent. The daily charge for a 20-foot container is $6 from the fifth to the eleventh day, and $12 from the twelveth to the twenty-fourth day. The charge is $24 per day after the 25th day until it is removed. The rate for a 40-foot container is doubled at each slab.
Importers will have to pay $96 for a 20-foot container starting on the 25th day if the new tariff takes effect. Md Omar Faruk, CPA Secretary, said yesterday that while the decision had not yet been made, the increase could be implemented to speed up deliveries.
