ports

MSC's Medlog Transforms Bangladesh Gateway With Barge-Based Model

MSC's Medlog has rapidly established itself at Bangladesh's Pangaon Inland Container Terminal since taking over operations five months ago. The terminal has processed box volumes equivalent to an entire year under previous operators. The terminal, strategically positioned near Dhaka but long underutilized, is now attracting major exporters and importers through a cost-focused strategy centered on barge transportation to Chittagong port. Medlog's waterborne logistics model significantly undercuts road transport. Import moves from Chittagong to Dhaka cost $327 for a 20ft container by barge versus $440 by truck. Export shipments show even steeper savings: $170 for 20ft containers and $280 for 40ft units by water compared with $440 and $570 by road. The operator secured a 22-year lease in February and provides end-to-end logistics including factory collection and port transfers. Industry observers suggest sustained growth could position Pangaon as a critical alternative trade gateway, easing congestion on the Dhaka-Chittagong corridor.