Malaysian Octane Shipment Arrives Chattogram

A Hong Kong-flagged vessel named Kweichow carrying 26,000 tonnes of octane from Malaysia has arrived at Chattogram Port, reinforcing Bangladesh’s ongoing fuel import operations. The ship anchored at the outer anchorage of the port on Thursday morning (30 April), marking the third major consignment of refined fuel received in April aimed at maintaining stable domestic energy supply.

According to port authorities and shipping agents, preliminary preparations were completed shortly after arrival, and discharge operations are expected to commence from midday under the supervision of the local shipping agent, Pride Shipping Line. Officials from the agency noted that the unloading process may take additional time due to a combination of adverse weather conditions and limited jetty capacity at the port.

Throughout April, Bangladesh has received three significant shipments of octane in rapid succession. The first consignment arrived on 8 April, followed by a second on 17 April, and the latest on 30 April aboard the Kweichow. Altogether, these shipments have contributed a substantial volume of fuel to national reserves within a single month.

Industry stakeholders report that Bangladesh’s average daily octane demand stands at approximately 1,200 tonnes. On this basis, the combined imports received in April are sufficient to cover more than two months of national consumption, providing temporary relief to the fuel supply chain and reducing immediate pressure on reserves.

However, operational constraints at Chattogram Port continue to present logistical challenges. Pride Shipping Line proprietor Nazrul Islam stated that there are currently five fuel-carrying vessels, including those transporting octane and diesel, waiting at outer anchorage. In addition, three vessels have already been berthed since Wednesday for unloading operations.

He further explained that the port’s limited infrastructure—particularly the availability of only three dolphin jetties—restricts simultaneous berthing capacity. As a result, vessels are often required to remain at anchorage, leading to delays in discharge operations. Recent adverse weather conditions have further compounded these operational difficulties.

Recent Octane Shipments (April)

Officials involved in fuel supply management have observed that the steady inflow of large consignments has helped stabilise the domestic fuel market in the short term. Nevertheless, they caution that without significant expansion of port infrastructure and jetty handling capacity, Bangladesh may continue to face congestion at anchorage and delays in fuel discharge operations in the future.