Reduction in Bangladesh's Maize Import Forecast

15-Apr-2026 05:15 PM

Dhaka. Although the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has projected that total maize imports into Bangladesh are likely to rise to 1.8 million tonnes during the current 2025-26 marketing season—marking a 27.2 percent increase over imports in the 2024-25 season—it has revised the import forecast for the 2026-27 season downward by 100,000 tonnes, setting it at 1.7 million tonnes.

According to the USDA, maize production in Bangladesh is expected to reach 5.9 million tonnes in the 2026-27 season—a 1.7 percent increase—which is why the country's requirement for imports from abroad is expected to decrease slightly. Farmers in Bangladesh are prioritizing maize cultivation because it yields a return (income) that is more than three times the cost of production. Compared to Boro paddy and other crops, the production costs for maize are significantly lower.

An interesting fact is that, after a long hiatus of approximately eight years, Bangladesh imposed a 19 percent tariff on domestic products during 2026, subject to the condition that it would maximize its imports of U.S. agricultural products. Bangladesh is currently complying with this condition.