RSGT looks to invest up to USD 1 bn in Bangladesh after expanding Patenga’s capacity

More RSGT capital headed to Patenga? Saudi port operator Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT) is eyeing up to USD 1 bn in additional investment across Bangladesh's ports and logistics sector, CEO Lars Vang Christensen said — a signal of appetite that comes just as RSGT’s Patenga Container Terminal in Chittagong hits full capacity following a USD 170 mn upgrade. The firm hasn’t disclosed a timeline or which projects the wider investment would cover.

Behind the capacity jump at Chittagong: RSGT raised the terminal’s annual handling capacity to 600k TEUs from 250k — installing four ship-to-shore cranes, 14 hybrid yard cranes, a container scanner, and new digital systems. The upgrades lifted productivity by around 30% compared with regional terminals. The Sisco-backed operator had begun commercial operations at the facility in June 2024 under a 22-year concession signed with the Chittagong Port Authority in 2023.

Volumes are still ramping up: Patenga is expected to handle around 400k TEUs this year, roughly 12% of Chittagong Port’s container traffic, before exceeding 500k TEUs, or 17%, in 2027. The wider port handled around 3.4 mn TEUs last year and serves as the gateway for about 90% of Bangladesh’s foreign trade, according to its annual report (pdf).

What to watch: While Bangladesh remains RSGT’s only Asian foothold outside the Kingdom, the firm had evaluated expected concessions for Laem Chabang Port’s “B” terminals in Thailand back in 2024 — though it hasn’t announced a bid or an agreement yet.