Brazil Surpasses India in Maize Exports to Bangladesh

24-Apr-2026 01:48 PM

Dhaka. Bangladesh has traditionally been a major buyer of Indian maize; however, it is now prioritizing imports from Brazil and the United States over India. Consequently, Brazil has significantly outpaced India to emerge as the largest supplier of maize to Bangladesh.

The animal feed, poultry feed, and aqua feed industries in Bangladesh are undergoing rapid growth and expansion, leading to a continuous rise in the demand and consumption of maize.

For years, Bangladeshi importers have procured large quantities of maize from India due to its competitive pricing, the short geographical distance between the two nations, and the resulting quick delivery times.

However, this advantageous position for India began to erode starting in 2024. This shift was driven by two key factors: firstly, the substantial diversion of maize for ethanol production within India; and secondly, a sharp surge in its market prices.

As a result, India's exportable stock of maize dwindled significantly. This compelled Bangladesh to turn to alternative suppliers. Brazil capitalized fully on this opportunity and rapidly commenced maize shipments to Bangladesh.

In 2025, a trade agreement was concluded between Bangladesh and the United States, leading to the resumption of American maize imports—a trade flow that had been suspended since 2018.