Cotton importers in Bangladesh are facing problems due to port congestion. Spinners import cotton from India, the US, African countries and many other countries, and they have to wait for eight to 10 days for the cotton to be released from the port. Cotton is an essential raw material for the garment sector, the country’s main export earner.

Even six months ago the spinners could get the cotton from the port within three days. The longer waiting time at the port means paying fees as berthing charges. And the fees have increased the cost of doing business. In such a scenario, importers are bringing in more raw cotton than they need at present and stockpiling them at warehouses.

The problem has arisen because two gantry cranes at the Chittagong port have broken down. Repair might take six to seven months. Bangladesh is the world’s biggest cotton importer. In 2016, Bangladesh imported 6.5 million bales of cotton. Bangladesh's cotton imports will creep up to 7.1 million bales in 2017-18. Cotton growers in Bangladesh can only supply less than three per cent of the yearly demand. The 430 local spinning mills can supply nearly 90 per cent of the yarn for the knitwear sector and 40 per cent of the fabrics needed by the woven sector.