Bangladesh’s supply chain for essential food items is under pressure ahead of Ramadan as a severe shortage of lighterage vessels has caused major congestion at Chattogram Port’s outer anchorage.
As of 15 January, 108 cargo vessels carrying about 4.5 million tonnes of goods were stranded at sea. Among them, 17 ships were loaded with around 1.2 million tonnes of Ramadan-related food items such as wheat, maize, lentils, chickpeas, soybean, and edible oil. Several vessels carrying sugar, fertiliser, and cement clinkers are also stuck.
Due to the shortage of lighterage vessels, cargo discharge time has doubled, rising from the usual 7–10 days to 20–30 days. Importers are facing daily demurrage costs of $15,000–$20,000 per ship, pushing total daily losses to nearly $2 million. Traders warn these costs may lead to higher food prices during Ramadan.
Authorities say they are monitoring the situation closely and have warned of strict action if irregularities are found. However, port users stress that urgent coordination and flexible use of available vessels are needed to prevent supply disruptions and market instability.
