Singapore – Bangladesh is turning out to be a magnet for dry bulk shipping in Asia as its economy continues to boom, maintaining its status as the “fastest-growing” economy in the eastern hemisphere. There is a lot of construction material that is being imported- a mix of slag, clinker, aggregates, limestone and grains etc. which has drawn a sizable dry bulk shipping traffic to its shores.

The major driver for the increase in port traffic is from ships bringing clinker cargoes. Clinker and limestone are used for making cement. Bangladesh imports between 15 million-20 million mt of clinker and limestone annually, according to the country’s 2018 economic survey report.