Faruque Hassan, President, The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) urged global apparel buyers to nominate more shipping lines and private off-docks to help ensure timely shipment of export containers.

Hassan made this request during a meeting with various stakeholders, including representatives of main line operators and international buyers, according to a press release.

The meeting, held at the BGMEA office in Dhaka, aimed to discuss ways of addressing a container backlog and vessel shortages that impact garment exports.

Hassan said many export containers loaded with garment items sit idle for as many as 10 to 15 days at their respective inland container depots before being sent to the Chattogram port.

This is to select shipping lines, freight forwarders and off-docks being nominated for the job by international buyers, he added.

Many global retailers and brands import billions of dollars worth of apparel products from Bangladesh.

However, they only nominate one or two shipping lines and freight forwarders to transport their cargo, he added

The container backlogs also occur since most international buyers chose just four or five off-docks to handle their cargo before shipping.

This causes delays in shipment as well and exporters are forced to bear additional charges for the delay.

He urged global apparel buyers, such as H&M and Marks & Spencer, to allow more shipping lines and off-docks to handle their cargo as it would reduce the pressure on making shipments.