Bangladesh eases container use for importers-exporters

Bangladesh government has allowed the round-trip use of containers for import and export after calls from shippers.

This approval is expected to reduce transport cost and cut lead times for businesses in the country. Lead time means the amount of time from the customer placing the order until the product is ready to ship.

This was a major concern for Bangladeshi shippers, especially for the apparel sector.

A director of the Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association told news agency The Loadstar that the round-trip concept is a good one, but being a new concept, it would take some time to become common practice in Bangladesh.

The use of round-trip containers will primarily be allowed in export processing zones (EPZs) only. But it’s expected to expand to other factories across the country.

Prior to the approval, importers had to return empty containers to container freight stations (CFS) near Chattogram port after unloading.

When another exporter needed the containers to load goods, they had to buy them from CFS again. It took more time and pushed transportation cost up.