AUCTION backlog grows at Chattogram port as 9,786 TEU of goods are decaying, authorities have revealed, reports Dhaka's Business Standard.

However, the importers never took delivery of the goods, and customs officials were unable to auction them in a timely manner.

Since 18 November, customs authorities in Chattogram have been destroying tons of decayed fruits and spices at the city corporation's garbage dumping yard.

These goods were imported by 11 businessmen and stored in 21 containers at Chattogram Port since 2023.

However, the importers never took delivery of the goods, and customs officials were unable to auction them in a timely manner. Low auction prices further discouraged sales.

This delay in auctioning goods has led to an increasing backlog of auctionable containers at the port. As of November 20, there were 9,786 TEU of auction-eligible containers in the port yard, making up 32 per cent of the total 30,841 TEU of imported containers.

Data from Chattogram port show that these containers were imported after 2004, and, based on information from importers and auction traders, the 9,786 auction-eligible containers contain tonnes of goods.

The number of auction-eligible containers has been rising since 2021, with 1,516 more containers eligible for auction in 2024 compared to the previous year.

Shafiqul Alam Jewel, vice chairman of the Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association, said: "Unresolved auctions cause containers to remain stuck at the port for years, preventing their use for import and export activities. This results in financial losses for shipping companies, as they are unable to earn container rental fees."

"Although goods should be auctioned 30 days after importers fail to take delivery, the process often drags on for years, leading to substantial financial losse," he said.

Chattogram Customs House has set a troubling record by putting up a single consignment of goods for auction more than 27 times.