ports

Bangladesh Garment Shippers Squeezed by Liner Capacity Constraints

Bangladesh apparel exporters are facing severe capacity constraints on US routes as container lines prioritize higher-margin Chinese shipments ahead of the Golden Week holiday. Freight rates from Chittagong to US ports have more than doubled from $5,000 to $11,400 per 40-foot container over recent weeks. Exporters using delivered-duty-paid arrangements are particularly vulnerable, with many reporting an inability to secure fresh bookings. Companies relying on spot market rates rather than long-term contracts face the steepest challenges and rising surcharges. While freight-on-board shippers avoid cost exposure, they too struggle with space availability. Industry participants attribute the shortage to elevated demand from Chinese exporters consuming available capacity. Bangladesh competitors find themselves competing for limited space during this critical shipping window.