LaycanDeskVietnam to Bangladesh clinker freight - Cam Pha, Nghi Thiet and Hon Gai to Chittagong and Kutubdia
Portland cement clinker in 50,000 to 60,000 tonne bulk cargoes on geared Supramax and Ultramax tonnage for outer anchorage lighterage into Bangladeshi grinding mills. Cam Pha, Nghi Thiet, Hon Gai and Nghi Son to Chittagong Outer Anchorage and Kutubdia OPL: bulk Portland cement clinker in 50,000 to 60,000 tonne cargoes on geared Supramax and Ultramax tonnage, fixed on conveyor load throughput, lighterage barge turnaround, and C3S reactivity requirements.
Vietnam's rotary kilns produce over 100 million tonnes of clinker annually, and Bangladesh is its largest seaborne customer, taking over 12 million tonnes per year because the country has virtually no domestic limestone quarries. Cam Pha (max draft 11.5–12.0m) and the dedicated deepwater international bulk terminal at Nghi Thiet (The Vissai, up to 14.0m draft for Ultramax and Kamsarmax) load bulk clinker by high-speed shore conveyor at 12,000 to 18,000 tonnes a day PWWD SHINC. The receiving constraint is strictly logistical: Supramaxes and Ultramaxes drawing 12.2m to 12.8m cannot cross the Karnaphuli river bar into Chittagong river jetties (draft ceiling 9.2m–9.8m). Tonnage must anchor at Kutubdia OPL or Chittagong Outer Anchorage (Alpha/Bravo/Charlie), where ship's grabs (4 x 30t) discharge into domestic 1,500–3,000 DWT coastal river barges at 5,000 to 8,000 tonnes a day, ferrying the clinker up the Shitalakshya and Meghna rivers directly to private mill berths.
The desk works the lane on the lighterage turnaround and clinker mineralogy. Grinding mills like Crown Cement, Fresh Cement, Shah Cement, and Seven Rings require high C3S (>55–58%), controlled free lime (<1.3%), and high liter weight (1,180–1,260 g/L) for BDS EN 197-1 compliance. Charterers send the stem with the loading terminal, parcel size (typically 50,000–55,000 MT 10% MOLOO), discharge anchorage, gear specifications, laycan, and the declared charterer of record; without the declared buyer and terminal, nothing goes to owners. Owners of geared Supramaxes and Ultramaxes opening in Southeast Asia, the Malacca Strait, and the Bay of Bengal send open positions, and the desk pairs them against prompt stems. Every counterparty and vessel is screened before an offer. We work by email.
Load ports
- Cam Pha (Quang Ninh, 11.5–12.0 m draft, conveyor 12,000–15,000 t/day)
- Nghi Thiet (Nghe An, deepwater 14.0 m draft, up to 18,000 t/day)
- Hon Gai & Cam Pha Anchorage (barge/floating crane)
- Nghi Son (Thanh Hoa, 10,000–14,000 t/day)
Discharge ports
- Kutubdia OPL / Deep-Water Anchorage (lighterage, 12.5–14.0 m draft)
- Chittagong Outer Anchorage (Alpha/Bravo/Charlie)
- Lighterage barges (1,500–3,000 DWT) to Shitalakshya and Meghna rivers
- Mongla Anchorage on smaller Handysize lots
Typical parcels
- Bulk clinker 50,000–60,000 t 10% MOLOO, Supramax/Ultramax
- High-reactivity Portland clinker (C3S ≥ 55–58%, Liter weight 1,180–1,260 g/L)
- Discharge benchmark 5,000–8,000 t/day PWWD SHINC into river barges
- Vietnam exported >15 Mt clinker to Bangladesh in 2025
Ships that carry it
The cargo itself, on Commbril
Questions charterers and owners ask
Why do clinker vessels discharge at Kutubdia rather than Chittagong berths?
Because Chittagong river berths inside the Karnaphuli river have a maximum permissible draft of 9.2 to 9.8 metres depending on tidal cycles, whereas a laden 55,000 MT Supramax draws 12.2 to 12.8 metres. Vessels must anchor at Kutubdia OPL or Chittagong Outer Anchorage and lighter cargo into 1,500–3,000 DWT coastal river barges.
What crane and grab specifications do owners require for clinker?
Geared Supramaxes and Ultramaxes must be equipped with 4 × 30 or 4 × 35 MT electro-hydraulic cranes and heavy-duty remote-controlled grabs (10 to 14 cbm) suitable for abrasive clinker (bulk density 1.2–1.4 t/cbm). Grabs must close cleanly to avoid environmental dust spillage.
What clinker chemical parameters do Bangladeshi cement mills require?
Bangladeshi grinders blending Portland Composite Cement (PCC BDS EN 197-1 CEM II/A-M) require C3S ≥ 55.0–58.0%, C3A ≤ 7.5–8.5%, Free CaO ≤ 1.2–1.5%, Loss on Ignition (LOI) ≤ 1.0%, and liter weight of 1,180–1,260 g/L to ensure high early 3-day and 28-day compressive strengths.
What must I send to get a named ship?
Loading terminal and berth draft, parcel size and tolerance, discharge anchorage (Kutubdia or Chittagong OPL), load and discharge rates with laytime terms (PWWD SHINC FIOST), laycan window, commission, and the declared charterer of record. Without the declared principal, orders are not worked.