Strategic warehousing

AP Møller-Maersk is partnering with Ispahani Summit Alliance Terminals Limited (ISATL) to build the new 200,000 sq ft facility at Chattogram (also known as Chittagong) Port.

Bangladesh is key to the global garment trade, yet the number of warehouses has only increased by one since 2012. This new warehouse, opened by ISATL in 2018, increased capacity but increasing trade is putting pressure on existing facilities leading to delays at the port which handles more than 90% of containerised cargo in the country.

“There was a need for a comprehensive solution to optimise ocean shipping, port handling and inland logistics that would benefit trade in the long term,” said Angshuman Mustafi, managing director at Maersk Bangladesh. “By partnering with ISATL, we are establishing a facility that has the potential to partially decongest the system from the landside and streamline the flow of cargo in and out of Bangladesh.”

Under the scope of this partnership, ISATL will construct a new custom bonded warehouse within the existing premises at Pathortoli in Chattogram. The new warehouse will double the existing capacity at ISATL and add around 8% additional space to the existing ecosystem at Chattogram.

Construction has already commenced and is expected to be completed in a phased manner by the end of 2022 with exporters and overseas buyer able to start using the facility in July, once the first phase of construction is completed.