Bangladesh has brought in a substantial amount of wheat in the first nine and a half months of the current fiscal year, surpassing the total imports of the previous year. Importers attributed this increase to lower global prices, changing food consumption habits, and initiatives to reduce the trade deficit with the United States.
Data from the Directorate General of Food revealed that a total of 62.35 lakh tonnes of wheat were imported in the fiscal year 2024-25 (FY25) across both government and private sectors. In contrast, during just the July-April period of the ongoing fiscal year 2025-26 (FY26), a total of 67.68 lakh tonnes of wheat was imported. The Ministry of Food recently projected that wheat imports for FY26 could reach 72 lakh tonnes due to robust domestic demand and market conditions.
Md Aminul Islam, the managing director of Nabil Group, pointed out that the surge in imports was driven by the relatively lower international prices a few months ago, resulting in imports at significantly reduced rates. Many importers took advantage of the drop in global wheat prices during the November-December period, when prices fell from around $275-$280 per tonne to approximately $255 per tonne.
Wheat is the second most important cereal in Bangladesh after rice, with local production meeting about 13 percent of the national demand. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) indicated that the lack of improved varieties has led to a gradual decline in wheat acreage and production over time. Additionally, the USDA noted that wheat blast disease has contributed to stagnant production.
Anup Kumar Saha, the executive director of Akij Insaf Group, highlighted that population growth and improved living standards have bolstered food demand in Bangladesh. He noted that while rice consumption has remained steady or slightly decreased, wheat consumption has been on the rise.
Bangladesh traditionally sourced a significant portion of its wheat from India, but following India’s ban on wheat exports in May 2022, Bangladeshi importers have diversified their sources. Argentina emerged as a major wheat supplier to Bangladesh in the MY 2025-26 due to competitive pricing. Other key wheat suppliers to Bangladesh include Canada, Ukraine, Russia, the United States, and Brazil.
Abul Bashar Chowdhury, chairman of BSM Group, a prominent importer of consumer goods, mentioned that the current higher prices of rice have led consumers to opt for wheat as an alternative. He noted that the price difference between low-grade wheat and rice in the international market has influenced increased wheat consumption.
Chowdhury also suggested that government efforts to address the trade imbalance with the United States may have contributed to higher government-level wheat imports compared to the previous year.
