In 2024, private inland container depots (ICDs) in Bangladesh experienced a 16% year-on-year growth in handling export and import-laden containers, totaling 1,019,058 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units). Six of the 21 private ICDs handled 60% of the total volume, with KDS Logistics retaining its top position for the seventh consecutive year.
The 19 active ICDs (excluding two handling only empty containers) managed 7.5 lakh TEUs of export-laden containers, a 13.5% increase from 2023, and 2.68 lakh TEUs of import-laden containers, marking a 24% rise. These facilities also handled 6.24 lakh TEUs of empty containers. ICDs processed 23% of total imports, managing 38 approved categories of goods, while nearly 90% of export-laden containers were prepared at ICDs before shipment through the Chattogram port.
The growth underscores the enhanced capacity of ICDs, which play a crucial role in reducing congestion at the Chattogram port by enabling quick shipment clearances. However, Mohammad Ruhul Amin Sikder, secretary general of the Bangladesh Inland Container Depots Association, emphasized the need for ICDs to handle more import-laden containers, as direct deliveries from port yards contribute to operational inefficiencies.
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