Bangladesh has begun sending containers to Moscow via alternate channels as a result of global sanctions and the suspension of services to Russia by major vessel operators. After being stalled in Chittagong for weeks, a 68-teu container is currently on its way to Poland via Colombo port transhipment. They will next go by road to Russia. Shippers may try to sell them in Poland or explore for other destinations if they are unable to do so. Another 18 teu of containers will be sent from Colombo to Mersin, Turkey, and then transported by road. Following the shipping lines’ decision to halt services to Russia, Chittagong depots and factories were flooded with 200 teu and un-boxed cargoes. Many manufacturers suspended production of orders for Russia.
But buyers began to seek new routes to move their goods, mostly apparel. Ruhul Amin Sikder, secretary, Bangladesh Inland Container Depots Association (BICDA), said: “Since alternative routes have been found, buyers can now send containers to Russia if they want to.” Meanwhile, the severe crisis at Colombo port, a transshipment hub for 40% of Bangladesh’s export and import trade, has been causing two to three days’ delay for vessels calling at the port.
