According to data from the National Board of Revenue (NBR), in the recently concluded fiscal year 2025-26, Bangladesh imported a total of 7.434 million tons of wheat, the highest in a single fiscal year in the country's history. Compared to the previous fiscal year, wheat imports increased by about 25 percent.
According to the data, 2.2 million tons of wheat were imported from Argentina in the last fiscal year, costing approximately $567 million. About 30 percent of total wheat imports came from this country, thus Argentina has captured the position of Bangladesh's largest wheat supplier.
According to analysts, after the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022, due to supply uncertainty, transportation risks, and price volatility in the international market, Bangladesh and other countries began to turn to alternative sources for wheat imports. In continuation of this, Argentina has now become Bangladesh's main source.
It is noteworthy that in the fiscal year 2024-25, Argentina was ranked fourth among the countries supplying wheat to Bangladesh.
On the other hand, wheat imports from Russia have decreased significantly. In the fiscal year 2025-26, 1.679 million tons of wheat were imported from this country, which is 23 percent of total imports. However, in the previous fiscal year, 44 percent of Bangladesh's total wheat imports came from Russia. That is, within one year, this country's share has dropped by almost half.
Not only the import volume, but the number of business entities involved in importing wheat from Argentina has also increased. Previously, only a handful of entities imported wheat from this country, whereas in the last fiscal year, 46 entities imported wheat from Argentina.
Currently, Bangladesh's main import sources for soft wheat include Argentina, Russia, Ukraine, the United States, Romania, Bulgaria, and Brazil.
Meanwhile, wheat imports from Brazil have also increased significantly. In the fiscal year 2025-26, 476,000 tons of wheat were imported from this country, which is 6.41 percent of total imports. In the previous fiscal year, this rate was only 2 percent.
In terms of price, Brazil was the most competitive. According to NBR data, the average import price per ton of wheat from this country was $255. On the other hand, the average price per ton of wheat from Argentina was $257. That is, although the price is slightly lower, Brazil has not yet been established as a major wheat supplier for Bangladesh.
Regarding this, Md. Sakib Rezwan, Controller of Movement and Preservation at the Chattogram Movement and Preservation Office, said, at one time most of Bangladesh's wheat was imported from Russia and Ukraine. However, in the last fiscal year, there has been a major change in the import source, and a significant amount of wheat has been imported from Argentina and several other countries.
He informed that most of the wheat is imported into Bangladesh by sea. Of this, about 60 percent of the wheat is unloaded at Chattogram port and the remaining 40 percent through Mongla port.
