A new container-weight limit gets ditched as Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) budged amid protests against shipment-cost escalation, sources say.
The CPA had moved to enforce the verified gross mass (VGM) of 30.48 tonnes in case of both 20-foot and 40-foot containers, but faced with protests from exporters.
Especially, potato exporters stood against the move as with the newly set maximum gross weight of containers they can carry less than in the past, thus adding to trade cost.
Officials said the CPA on February 09 this year issued a circular restricting the maximum gross weight of 20-fot and 40-foot containers to be handled at the seaport.
It ruled that the maximum gross weight for both sizes of containers will be 30.48 tonnes inclusive of the weight of the empty containers as well.
The CPA wanted to enforce the new weight in line with the ISO 668 seventh edition 2020-21, classification, dimensions, and ratings for containers.
"But in the event of any shipping line/MLO bringing any container laden with cargo outweighing the above ISO-prescribed weight limits, the Chittagong Port Authority shall not provide facility for handling such containers," the CPA circular reads.
The port operator further said if any shipping line/MLO/agency failed to comply with the weight limits, they shall be liable for any consequence arising out of any mishap in course of handling and transportation of such non-standard containers.
However, the country's potato exporters faced the effect as, with the new weight limit, they now can export less than the previous 40-foot reefer container, thus incur financial loss.
Dr Shaikh Abdul Quader, president of Bangladesh Potato Exporters Association, said the weight of an empty reefer container is around 4.0 tonnes. Before the circular was issued potato exporters were able to ship 28 tonnes of potato in a 40-foot container. "As the highest limit is now set at 30.48 tonnes, now we can carry 26 tonnes in a 40-foot container, which means 2.0 tonnes less than in the past."
If the maximum weight limit is lessened, potato export will also fall, Mr Quader argued to back up the opposition.
And if the shipment cost goes up, exporters will suffer as they would not be able to compete on the international market.
Mr Quader mentioned that exporters from other countries send 30 tonnes of potato in each 40-foot reefer container while Bangladeshi traders are allowed to carry 28 tonnes.
"We urge the government to set the limit at 35 tonnes for 40-foot reefer containers, like in the other countries," he says in their request for further raising the weight caps.
CPA director (Traffic) Enamul Karim, who undersigned the circular, could not be reached for a comment on the developments despite several attempts.
However, a senior CPA official said as the potato exporters were facing problems due to the new weight limit, the authority responded to their plea and cancelled the circular issued on February 09.
Bangladesh in 2022 produced 11 million tonnes of potatoes, of which nearly 0.8 million tonnes were exported.
The country mainly exports potato to Malaysia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, Brunei, and Qatar, among others.
syful-islam@outlook.com
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