## Company Profile MULTI FREIGHT LIMITED — Bangladesh-based freight forwarder (lead: Syed Golam Mowla, Managing Director). Registered as a C&F/freight forwarding company serving importers and exporters in Bangladesh (contact page at https://multifreight.net/contacts/). Typical service set for this category: ocean and air freight consolidation (FCL/LCL), customs clearance and bond management, door delivery and local trucking, and project/cargo handling through Chattogram Port. Scale: not publicly listed; appears to be a local/small-to-mid sized forwarder focused on Bangladeshi trade lanes and Chattogram import/export flow. ## Pain Points 1) Surge in import volumes (wheat, edible oils, fertiliser) and seasonal spikes (Ramadan/Eid) are straining booking capacity, vessel space and local handling — clients need faster supplier matches and guaranteed freight options to meet tight windows. 2) Episodic port and institutional risks (NBR strikes, labour actions, fee disputes) create unpredictable clearance delays — clients need diversified sourcing and route options plus pre‑validated documentation to avoid shipment deadlocks. 3) Rapid customs digitisation (CBMS mandatory; NSW roll‑out) raises compliance and IT-integration demands on forwarders and their clients; smaller forwarders may lack digital procurement-to-clearance workflows and therefore lose time or incur fines. How Tridge Ark maps: provides an originator channel that brings exporters/importers already matched, with sourcing and documentation handled end‑to‑end, reducing booking friction and CBMS/NSW issues. ## Intel Summary === MULTI-DIMENSION RESEARCH === === [MARKET EVENTS] === Bangladesh export and import trade flows 2026; Chattogram port container throughput; congestion; new shipping services • Role of Chattogram in trade flows – Chattogram handles about 92% of Bangladesh’s total seaborne import–export trade and 98% of containerised cargo, so its performance is a direct proxy for national trade flows. ([thedailystar.net](https://www.thedailystar.net/business/economy/news/ctg-port-hit-several-records-2025-despite-disruptions-4071266?utm_source=openai)) • Latest throughput levels (FY 2025–26 and calendar 2025) – FY2024–25 (ending June 2025): • Containers: 3.29 million TEUs, up from 3.17m in FY23–24 (+4.1% y/y). ([thefinancialexpress.com.bd](https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/economy/ctg-port-handles-record-329m-containers-in-fy25?utm_source=openai)) • Open cargo: 130.72m tonnes. ([thefinancialexpress.com.bd](https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/economy/ctg-port-handles-record-329m-containers-in-fy25?utm_source=openai)) – Calendar 2025: • Containers: 3.409 million TEUs (34.09 lakh), up from 3.276m in 2024 (+4.07% y/y). ([newagebd.net](https://www.newagebd.net/post/mis/286905/new-records-set-in-container-cargo-ship-handling?utm_source=openai)) • Cargo: 138.15m tonnes (13.82 crore tonnes), +11.4% vs 2024 (123.9m). ([helm.news](https://helm.news/2026-01-02/chattogram-port-broke-records-handling-over-lakh-containers-boosting.html?utm_source=openai)) • Vessel calls: ~4,273 vessels in 2025, +10.5% y/y. ([helm.news](https://helm.news/2026-01-02/chattogram-port-broke-records-handling-over-lakh-containers-boosting.html?utm_source=openai)) – First nine months of FY2025–26 (July 2025–March 2026): • Containers: 2.57m TEUs, +4.75% y/y. ([tbsnews.net](https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/ctg-port-posts-strong-growth-bottlenecks-and-ranking-slip-raise-concerns-1424411?utm_source=openai)) • Cargo: 104.29m tonnes, +7.39% y/y. ([tbsnews.net](https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/ctg-port-posts-strong-growth-bottlenecks-and-ranking-slip-raise-concerns-1424411?utm_source=openai)) • Short-term trade and macro signals (FY2025–26) – Trade deficit reached US$13.8bn in July–Jan FY25–26, up from US$11.75bn a year earlier (+US$2.05bn), indicating imports are growing faster than exports. ([reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/BangladeshMedia/comments/1rsezvz/trade_deficit_hits_138b_as_export_growth_stalls/?utm_source=openai)) – Another data point shows the trade gap at US$16.91bn in July–Feb FY25–26 vs US$13.71bn a year earlier (+23% y/y), confirming a strong import rebound amid soft exports. ([reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/BangladeshMedia/comments/1sh7r7j/trade_gap_widens_to_3b_amid_surging_imports/?utm_source=openai)) • Port efficiency and congestion dynamics – Record volumes were achieved despite operational disruptions in 2025: customs work stoppages (linked to NBR restructuring), fee disputes, and transport strikes. ([newagebd.net](https://www.newagebd.net/post/mis/286905/new-records-set-in-container-cargo-ship-handling?utm_source=openai)) – At the same time, port operators report “zero waiting time” for vessels at the main jetties in late 2025, suggesting berth-side congestion has eased even as volumes grew. ([tbsnews.net](https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/ctg-port-posts-record-tk5460cr-revenue-2025-all-key-indicators-hit-historic-highs-1324301?utm_source=openai)) – A detailed 2025 performance review notes that after a peak of 326,523 TEUs handled in August 2025, monthly container volumes fell in Sep–Nov 2025 (to 312k, 286k, and 285k TEUs respectively), reflecting a Q4 trade contraction even within a record year. ([en.bonikbarta.com](https://en.bonikbarta.com/business/QJEXXFY2KhMYGkZa?utm_source=openai)) – There were also customs strikes and NBR staff protests mid‑2025 that temporarily stopped revenue collection and trade at ports before revenue work was declared an essential service - a structural risk indicator for clearance reliability. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_NBR_strike?utm_source=openai)) • New capacity, automation, and service changes (2025–26) – Chattogram is targeting a practical annual container-handling capacity of 3.7m TEUs by end‑2025, up from 3.275m in 2024, via higher efficiency at New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) and other facilities. ([tbsnews.net](https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/chattogram-port-boosts-efficiency-record-monthly-handling-targets-37-million-teus-year-end?utm_source=openai)) – NCT was placed under Chittagong Dry Dock Limited in July 2025, raising terminal efficiency by an estimated 12–14%. ([tbsnews.net](https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/ctg-port-posts-strong-growth-bottlenecks-and-ranking-slip-raise-concerns-1424411?utm_source=openai)) – Government signed a US$550m framework with APM Terminals (Maersk group) in 2025 to develop a new Bay Terminal / deep-water facility that would gradually allow Chattogram to handle ships up to about 6,000 TEU vs ~2,800 TEU currently. This is a medium‑term capacity and service game-changer for mainline calls. ([reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/BangladeshEconomics/comments/1q3n2qd/bangladesh_apm_terminals_ink_550_million/?utm_source=openai)) – Local media in early 2026 report Chattogram Port is introducing an automated system for export–import data, delivery orders and document processing, explicitly aimed at reducing paperwork and cutting clearance times. ([reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/BangladeshMedia/comments/1qjft8a/bangladeshs_chattogram_port_introducing_automated/?utm_source=openai)) – There is also political debate and stakeholder pushback on proposed long-term terminal concessions to foreign operators such as DP World; discussions on leasing NCT to DP World were still ongoing as of early May 2026. ([reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/BangladeshMedia/comments/1p8ihcx/port_deals_face_questions_on_transparency_haste/?utm_source=openai)) • Operational risk events in 2026 – Business groups warned in Feb 2026 that a “deadlock” at Chattogram – with shipping reportedly at a standstill due to labour action and disputes – threatened exports and raised fears of a Ramadan‑period price spike for essentials. ([reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/BangladeshMedia/comments/1qx3pju/ctg_port_deadlock_threatens_exports_raises_fears/?utm_source=openai)) – These disruptions coincide with a period where the port otherwise shows growth and “zero waiting time”, underscoring that labour/customs stoppages, not quay capacity, are the key current congestion risk. ([daily-sun.com](https://www.daily-sun.com/20/849445?utm_source=openai)) [Sources: national media, port statistics and trade data from 2024–2026] ([newagebd.net](https://www.newagebd.net/post/mis/286905/new-records-set-in-container-cargo-ship-handling?utm_source=openai)) === [DEMAND SIGNALS] === Bangladesh import demand 2026 - wheat, edible oil, fertiliser; apparel export shipments and seasonal peaks **1. Wheat and food‑grain demand (FY2025–26)**n• Import surge and structure – Total food‑grain imports in H1 FY25–26 (July–Dec 2025) rose 42% y/y to 4.2m tonnes (42 lakh), driven overwhelmingly by wheat. ([thedailystar.net](https://www.thedailystar.net/business/economy/news/food-grain-imports-surge-42-first-half-fy26-4099301?utm_source=openai)) – Of this, 3.5m tonnes (35 lakh, 84%) were wheat; rice was only 0.7m tonnes. Private sector wheat imports rose 31% y/y to 3.245m tonnes in H1. ([thedailystar.net](https://www.thedailystar.net/business/economy/news/food-grain-imports-surge-42-first-half-fy26-4099301?utm_source=openai)) – Food ministry projections suggest wheat imports for the full FY25–26 could add another 1–1.5m tonnes on top of already record volumes, with total wheat imports for the year potentially above 7m tonnes (7.2m t estimate for MY 2025/26). ([tbsnews.net](https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/bakeries-fish-feed-diversified-wheat-demand-drives-record-imports-1415016?utm_source=openai)) • Demand drivers and price levels – International wheat prices declined through 2024–25, encouraging importers; high domestic rice prices also shifted demand toward wheat as a cheaper substitute. ([thedailystar.net](https://www.thedailystar.net/business/economy/news/food-grain-imports-surge-42-first-half-fy26-4099301?utm_source=openai)) – Demand is increasingly industrial rather than just household: bakeries, biscuits and processed foods, and even fish feed producers are now major wheat consumers. ([tbsnews.net](https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/bakeries-fish-feed-diversified-wheat-demand-drives-record-imports-1415016?utm_source=openai)) • Seasonality – Wheat imports are typically front‑loaded around Q1–Q3 of the Bangladeshi fiscal year to build stocks ahead of Ramadan and monsoon‑season logistics risks. The sharp H1 import surge and trade‑deficit spike ahead of Ramadan 2026 are consistent with this pattern. ([reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/BangladeshMedia/comments/1pnp0bc/trade_deficit_widens_to_75b_in_juloct_as_ramadan/?utm_source=openai)) **2. Edible oil (soybean and palm) demand** • Market size and structure – Official estimates put annual edible oil demand at 2.4–2.5m tonnes, almost entirely met by imports (no significant domestic palm; limited oilseed crushing). ([en.prothomalo.com](https://en.prothomalo.com/amp/story/bangladesh/pwohbd05dd?utm_source=openai)) – USDA’s 2025 Oilseeds & Products Annual projects 2025/26 imports of vegetable oils at ~2.8m tonnes, with palm oil around 1.8m t and soybean oil around 0.75m t. ([grain-protrade.com](https://grain-protrade.com/news/2-8-million-tons-of-vegetable-oils-to-be-imported-by-bangladesh-in-2025-26/?utm_source=openai)) • Recent import and pricing signals (late 2025–early 2026) – Palm oil: imports in the first four months of 2026 were reported at ~457,000 tonnes and broadly stable y/y, underpinning supply of the dominant frying oil. ([millingmea.com](https://millingmea.com/bangladesh-soybean-oil-imports-fall-as-pricing-dispute-tightens-supply/?utm_source=openai)) – Soybean oil: imports fell sharply in early 2026 because of pricing disputes between local refiners and overseas suppliers and tighter L/C approvals. ([millingmea.com](https://millingmea.com/bangladesh-soybean-oil-imports-fall-as-pricing-dispute-tightens-supply/?utm_source=openai)) – Despite “ample” import volumes overall, retail markets in March 2026 reported shortages of bottled soybean oil. Administered retail prices have been fixed since Dec 2025 at Tk195/litre (bottled), Tk176 (loose soybean) and Tk166 (palm), with global FOB prices having fallen ~6% m/m. The price cap is discouraging formal supply even as demand remains strong. ([en.prothomalo.com](https://en.prothomalo.com/amp/story/bangladesh/pwohbd05dd?utm_source=openai)) • Seasonality – Edible‑oil demand peaks ahead of and during Ramadan (for frying/snacks) and Eid festivals. Trade‑deficit data for Jul–Oct FY25–26 shows an import spike driven by food items such as soybean oil, sugar, lentils and dates in preparation for Ramadan 2026. ([reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/BangladeshMedia/comments/1pnp0bc/trade_deficit_widens_to_75b_in_juloct_as_ramadan/?utm_source=openai)) **3. Fertiliser imports (urea, DAP, MOP) – FY2025–26** • Planned vs actual imports – Government procurement plan for FY25–26 included: • 215,000 tonnes of fertiliser under S‑to‑S deals (MOP from Russia, DAP from Morocco, etc.). Contract prices reported: MOP at about US$361/t CFR for a 35,000‑t lot. ([thefinancialexpress.com.bd](https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/national/govt-to-import-215k-tonnes-of-fertilisers?utm_source=openai)) • DAP import target for 2025–26 of 881,000 tonnes, with Morocco to supply 281,000 t. ([thefinancialexpress.com.bd](https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/national/govt-to-import-215k-tonnes-of-fertilisers?utm_source=openai)) – By early Q4 FY25–26 (per March–April 2026 reporting), cumulative urea imports in the year had reached about 1.31m tonnes. Two failed tenders left the import plan short, following shutdowns of most domestic urea plants due to gas supply disruptions. ([reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/bangladesh/comments/1sw3v5m/two_failed_rounds_of_tendering_leave_urea_import/?utm_source=openai)) • Demand and risk signals – Gas crisis and plant outages (from March 2026) have shifted reliance from domestic production toward higher import volumes of urea and DAP, increasing exposure to international prices and freight. ([reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/bangladesh/comments/1sw3v5m/two_failed_rounds_of_tendering_leave_urea_import/?utm_source=openai)) – Bangladesh Bank’s import monitoring data show chemical fertiliser as a notable contributor to import payments in 2025–26, especially MOP and DAP, confirming strong demand for nutrient imports despite FX pressures. ([bb.org.bd](https://www.bb.org.bd/econdata/import/weekly/weeklyposition.pdf?utm_source=openai)) **4. Apparel export demand and shipment patterns** • Export growth up to FY2024–25 – RMG exports to the US grew 14% y/y in FY2024–25 to about US$7.54bn, raising the US share of total garment exports to ~19.2%. ([online.thedailystar.net](https://online.thedailystar.net/business/news/apparel-exports-us-rose-14-fy25-3938066?utm_source=openai)) – Apparel exports to the EU reached US$21bn in Jan–Nov 2025, up 7.65% in value and 11.26% in volume y/y, indicating continued structural demand but with some price compression. ([mkma.org](https://mkma.org/2026/01/29/bangladesh-apparel-exports-to-eu-rise-to-us-21-billion-in-january-november-2025/?utm_source=openai)) • Demand softening in FY2025–26 – For July–Jan FY25–26, total RMG exports fell 2.43% y/y to US$22.98bn; exports to the EU market declined around 4% y/y over the same period. ([unb.com.bd](https://unb.com.bd/category/Business/rmg-exports-down-24-y-on-y-in-first-7-months-of-fiscal/179248?utm_source=openai)) – Bangladesh’s apparel exports to the US specifically were down 8.5% y/y in Jan–Feb 2026, while Vietnam and Indonesia gained share, reflecting tighter consumer spending in advanced markets and competition in basic cotton garments. ([reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/BangladeshMedia/comments/1scorym/bangladeshs_exports_to_us_fall_85_in_janfeb/?utm_source=openai)) • Policy and preference signals – Bangladesh has negotiated reduced US tariffs on garments (from 35% to 20% for qualifying items) and, more recently, a planned zero‑tariff regime for garments produced with US cotton - both designed to support medium‑term export demand to the US. ([reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/DeshBangla/comments/1mewh9m?utm_source=openai)) • Seasonality in apparel shipments – Export booking and shipment peaks still follow major Western retail seasons: • Orders placed in Q1–Q2 (Jan–Jun) for back‑to‑school and fall; • Another wave in Q2–Q3 for holiday season. – The Q2–Q3 2025 rebound in orders to the US (e.g., 46% y/y growth in Jan 2025 alone) contrasts with the contraction seen in July–Nov 2025 and Jul–Jan 2025–26, underscoring that current demand is cyclical and closely tied to high‑income consumer spending, not just cost competitiveness. ([online.thedailystar.net](https://online.thedailystar.net/business/news/apparel-exports-us-rose-14-fy25-3938066?utm_source=openai)) [Sources: food‑grain, edible oil, fertiliser and apparel trade reports for FY2024–25 and FY2025–26] ([thedailystar.net](https://www.thedailystar.net/business/economy/news/food-grain-imports-surge-42-first-half-fy26-4099301?utm_source=openai)) === [TIMING SIGNALS] === Bangladesh customs policy 2026; National Single Window; customs digitisation; import restrictions and trade facilitation **1. National Single Window (Bangladesh Single Window / NSW) – status and impact** • Launch and coverage – The National Board of Revenue (NBR) partially launched the Bangladesh Single Window (BSW) on 2 Jan 2025, initially connecting seven trade‑related agencies through a single electronic gateway for import, export and transit documentation. ([tbsnews.net](https://www.tbsnews.net/nbr/nbrs-single-window-system-launched-streamline-business-functions-1033361?utm_source=openai)) • 2025–26 performance metrics – As of early 2026, NBR reports that the NSW has issued 578,491 certificates, licences and permits (CLPs) since January 2025, and that 95% of CLP applications submitted through NSW are processed within one day. ([tbsnews.net](https://www.tbsnews.net/nbr/national-single-window-processing-95-trade-related-licences-permits-within-day-nbr-1240031?utm_source=openai)) • Remaining gaps – An investigative piece in May 2026 notes that despite spending at least Tk1,000 crore over two decades on digitisation, only 3 of 16 key actions needed for a modern paperless tax and customs system have seen substantial progress; many processes still rely on physical files. ([tbsnews.net](https://www.tbsnews.net/nbr/20-years-and-tk1000cr-later-nbr-runs-mostly-paperwork-1056166?utm_source=openai)) • The Customs Strategic Plan 2024–28 targets a fully operational Bangladesh Single Window only by Q4‑2027, implying further staged roll‑outs beyond 2026. ([nbr.gov.bd](https://nbr.gov.bd/uploads/publications/CSP_2024-28_Final_Version.pdf?utm_source=openai)) **2. Customs digitisation and automation (bonded warehouses, risk management)**n• Customs Bond Management System (CBMS) – Automated bond software went live on 1 Jan 2025 for bonded warehouse licensees (notably RMG exporters), providing online services such as bond permissions and audits. ([tbsnews.net](https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/nbr-issues-25000-online-bond-permissions-25-months-automation-takes-hold-1392901?utm_source=openai)) – NBR decision: CBMS has been mandatory for all exporters importing raw materials duty‑free from 1 Jan 2026. ([thedailystar.net](https://www.thedailystar.net/business/news/nbr-makes-cbms-mandatory-exporters-duty-free-imports-january-1-4048236?utm_source=openai)) – In the first 2.5 months after full mandatory adoption (Jan–mid‑March 2026), customs issued 25,000 bond‑related permissions online via CBMS, integrating with Bangladesh Bank’s systems via API for L/C verification - a concrete indicator that bond‑related clearance is now time‑sensitive but relatively predictable. ([tbsnews.net](https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/nbr-issues-25000-online-bond-permissions-25-months-automation-takes-hold-1392901?utm_source=openai)) • Port and customs process automation – Chattogram Port is rolling out new automated systems for export–import data capture, electronic delivery orders and digital document processing, intended to shorten clearance times and reduce yard congestion. ([reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/BangladeshMedia/comments/1qjft8a/bangladeshs_chattogram_port_introducing_automated/?utm_source=openai)) – Time‑Release Study work at key land and sea borders (e.g., Benapole) under NBR shows that risk‑based inspections and better ICT modules of ASYCUDA World are planned to further cut clearance times, but implementation is still in progress. ([nbr.gov.bd](https://nbr.gov.bd/uploads/publications/Time%20Release%20Study%20Report-%20Benapole.pdf?utm_source=openai)) **3. Institutional and labour‑related timing risks** • Restructuring and strikes – A 2025 ordinance split the National Board of Revenue into separate Revenue Policy and Revenue Management divisions. This restructuring triggered protests and a nationwide NBR strike in May–June 2025 that temporarily froze revenue collection and customs operations, leading to port closures (including Chattogram on 29 June 2025). ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Board_of_Revenue?utm_source=openai)) – The government later declared revenue and customs work an essential service to prevent such full stoppages, but sporadic protests and work slowdowns into FY2024–25 and FY2025–26 still caused clearance delays and introduced timing uncertainty for importers/exporters. ([newagebd.net](https://www.newagebd.net/post/mis/268791/ctg-port-handles-record-3296-lakh-containers-in-fy25?utm_source=openai)) • New rules for intermediaries – Customs Clearing & Forwarding (C&F) Agent Licensing Rules 2026 were issued in Jan 2026 to raise service quality and discipline among customs brokers. This is intended to support faster, more predictable clearance but may require a transition period as agents comply with new eligibility and performance criteria. ([en.bd-pratidin.com](https://en.bd-pratidin.com/economy/2026/01/14/54839?utm_source=openai)) **4. Tariff / import‑policy adjustments affecting timing and cost (selected 2026 moves)**n• Smartphone and electronics imports – In January 2026, NBR cut customs duty on imported mobile phones by around 60% via SRO 15‑Law/2026/Customs, temporarily lowering import costs. This type of SRO illustrates how sector‑specific tariff changes are being used as ad‑hoc demand and cost management tools. ([today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd](https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/last-page/nbr-cuts-customs-duty-on-imported-mobile-phones-by-60pc-1768328140?amp=true&utm_source=openai)) • Duty/tax benefits and repeals – A 2026 customs SRO (No. 19‑Law/2026/109/Customs) repealed a prior duty‑benefit scheme for raw‑material imports by the loom industry, while other 2025 SROs adjusted minimum import values for selected products. These moves show continued fine‑tuning of import cost structures, potentially affecting timing of L/C openings where traders try to pre‑empt or wait out SRO changes. ([taxvatpoint.com](https://www.taxvatpoint.com/customs-sro-bangladesh/?utm_source=openai)) • Broader trade‑facilitation stance – NBR leadership on Customs Day 2026 emphasised a shift toward trade facilitation, faster cargo clearance, greater transparency, and deeper use of risk‑management and automation, aligning with WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement obligations. ([bssnews.net](https://www.bssnews.net/business/354533?utm_source=openai)) **Implications for 2026 timing** – For compliant, low‑risk cargo routed through major ports and using NSW/CBMS, clearance times are trending downward (CLPs in ≤1 day; bond permissions online), improving predictability for 2026 shipments. ([tbsnews.net](https://www.tbsnews.net/nbr/national-single-window-processing-95-trade-related-licences-permits-within-day-nbr-1240031?utm_source=openai)) – However, structural risks remain: labour unrest, institutional restructuring, and partial digitisation continue to cause episodic delays (e.g., strikes causing port deadlocks), especially around politically sensitive periods or fee/tariff changes. ([newagebd.net](https://www.newagebd.net/post/mis/286905/new-records-set-in-container-cargo-ship-handling?utm_source=openai)) [Sources: NBR / customs communications, trade‑facilitation reports and 2025–26 policy updates] ([tbsnews.net](https://www.tbsnews.net/nbr/nbrs-single-window-system-launched-streamline-business-functions-1033361?utm_source=openai))