Bangladesh Boosts Maize Imports from Brazil & US, Reducing Reliance on India

14-Apr-2026 03:49 PM

Chittagong. Although India has historically been the primary and traditional supplier of maize to Bangladesh, Bangladeshi importers have now begun sourcing the grain from distant nations—such as Brazil and the United States—rather than from India.

Data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reveals that during the first 10 months of the current 2025-26 marketing season, Bangladesh imported approximately 1.5 million tonnes of maize. Of this total, 78 percent was sourced exclusively from Brazil, while the remaining 22 percent was imported from the United States and India. Each of these latter two countries accounted for an equal share of 11 percent.

According to official sources, prevailing low prices in the global market have incentivized Bangladesh's feed millers to import substantial quantities of maize and build up large stockpiles. Bangladesh has an annual requirement (demand) of approximately 7 million tonnes of maize; while the majority of this demand is met through domestic production, the country still needs to import between 1.5 and 1.6 million tonnes from abroad.

Given the rapid growth and expansion of the poultry, dairy, and animal feed industries within Bangladesh, both the demand for and consumption of maize continue to rise. Notably, this marks the first time since 2018 that Bangladesh has imported maize from the United States.