After a long eight years, corn shipments have started arriving in Bangladesh from the US again. This is the first time since 2018 that US corn has entered Bangladesh, and it is being seen as a significant commercial development. The official unloading of this corn shipment began at a ghat on the Karnaphuli River in the Sadarghat area of Chattogram city at around 11 am on Wednesday (December 7).
On this occasion, a program titled ‘The Return of US Corn to Bangladesh’ was organized at the ghat. Erin Covert, Agricultural Attaché of the US Embassy in Bangladesh, was present as the chief guest at the program. She said, today is a historic day. This corn export has started as part of further strengthening agricultural and commercial relations between Bangladesh and the US. The US wants to ensure quality corn and uninterrupted supply by working closely with importing companies.
This shipment imported a total of 57,855 metric tons of high-quality corn, which was produced in Minnesota and North and South Dakota states in the United States. Erin Covert said that although this is an initial shipment, the goal is to supply about 2 million metric tons of corn to Bangladesh every year in the future. The corn was produced in the 2025-26 crop season.
A press release from the US Embassy said that this shipment of corn was shipped from the Vancouver port in the US state of Washington on a ship named MV Beltocchio. The ship arrived in Kutubdia on December 31. From there, the corn is being shipped to various destinations in Chattogram, Narayanganj and Noapara on small lighter ships. The lighter ship from which the unloading operations were inaugurated on Wednesday contained about 2,500 tons of corn.
The corn was exported by United Grain Corporation (UGC), one of the leading grain exporters in the United States. Three Bangladeshi feed mills—Nahar Agro Group (10,000 tons), Paragon Group (19,000 tons), and Nourish Poultry and Hatchery Limited (29,000 tons)—imported the consignment.
Speaking at the event, Nahar Agro Group Managing Director Rakibur Rahman Tutul said that only 30 percent of the total corn demand in Bangladesh is met through domestic production, the rest is dependent on imports. Earlier, corn was mainly imported from India and Brazil due to fast supply. It usually takes 45-46 days to import corn from the United States. However, the shipment arrived on time due to the cooperation of the US authorities at the loading point.
He added that the price of corn per ton has fallen to about US$246, which is close to the price of imports from Brazil. Although it may take a little longer in the future, they will be interested in importing corn from the United States due to its improved quality and long-term commercial relations.
Representatives from two other importing companies were also present at the event. The officials hope that this shipment will establish a new place for US corn as a reliable and stable source of animal nutrition in the Bangladeshi animal feed industry.
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