Bangladesh imported a record volume of wheat in MY 2025/26

In MY 2025/26, Bangladesh imported a record 7.31 mln tons of wheat, taking advantage of lower global prices. According to the country’s Ministry of Food, private sector imports increased by 16% to 6.58 mln tons, while public sector purchases surged by 61% to 751 thsd tons.

The sharp increase in government imports followed a memorandum signed in July 2025 between the Government of Bangladesh and the US Wheat Associates. Under the agreement, Bangladesh will purchase 700 thsd tons of US wheat annually for five years to help reduce the trade imbalance with the United States and avoid higher tariffs.

Bangladesh remains one of the world’s largest wheat importers. The country produces only about 1 mln tons of wheat annually and covers the rest of its demand through imports from Argentina, Canada, Ukraine, Russia, the United States, and Brazil. According to the USDA, high imports in MY 2025/26 were supported by lower global prices and steady demand for wheat flour from both the food industry and the feed sector.

Another factor behind rising demand has been population growth and the rapid expansion of modern bakery chains. Industry representatives estimate that the formal bakery sector is growing by 16–17% annually, supporting higher wheat consumption. However, import activity slowed somewhat during the second half of the marketing year because of the conflict in the Middle East.

Despite the record imports, the USDA forecasts Bangladesh’s wheat imports to decline to 6.6 mln tons in MY 2026/27 due to larger carryover stocks. At the same time, wheat consumption is expected to continue rising and reach 8 mln tons, driven by strong demand for flour from households and the food industry.

Tags: wheat, imports, Bangladesh