Bangladesh’s corn imports rise amid expanding feed industry

Bangladesh is increasing its domestic corn production despite the resumption of imports from the United States last year. According to the latest forecast from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), import demand will grow amid increased feed production, even with an expanding domestic harvest.

In 2025/26, Bangladesh made a significant return to the U.S. corn market, making its first purchase since 2018. By the end of the period, the U.S. share of its imports had reached 11%.

Three Bangladeshi feed milling companies initiated the first shipment of approximately 60,000 tons, which arrived at the port of Chattogram in the first week of January 2026. A consortium of industry companies subsequently completed two more purchases of U.S. corn. Total U.S. exports to Bangladesh in 2025/26 amounted to approximately 160,000 tons.

According to the USDA, corn imports will reach 1.8 million tons in 2025/26, driven by increased demand from the expanding feed industry and lower global prices. This figure is 27.2% higher than the previous marketing year (2024/25) estimate. The main suppliers were India, Brazil, and the United States. Lower global prices during the period stimulated feed traders and producers to actively purchase and build up stocks.

For 2026/27, the USDA forecasts imports to decrease to 1.7 million tons (-5.5% compared to 2025/26), driven by increased domestic production and high carryover stocks, which will cover a significant portion of demand.

The agency also notes a shift in the structure of corn suppliers to Bangladesh. Historically, India remained the key exporter due to its price competitiveness, advanced logistics, and short delivery times. However, since 2024, India’s export potential has declined significantly amid the growth of corn-based biofuel production. As a result, Brazil took the leading position: as of February 2025/26 MY, it accounted for 78% of supplies, while India and the United States each accounted for 11%.

Tags: imports, Bangladesh, compound feed, corn