Argentina Surpasses Russia and Ukraine as Bangladesh's Top Wheat Supplier

For the first time, Argentina has become Bangladesh's largest source of wheat imports, surpassing traditional suppliers Russia and Ukraine. This shift is a significant outcome of the changing import landscape that began after the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022. In the recently concluded fiscal year 2025-26, Bangladesh imported a record 7.434 million tons of wheat, a 25% increase from the previous year. Argentina alone accounted for approximately 30% of these imports, supplying 2.2 million tons at a cost of $567 million. This marks a substantial rise for Argentina, which was the fourth-largest supplier in the preceding fiscal year. In contrast, wheat imports from Russia decreased to 1.679 million tons, representing 23% of the total, down from 44% in the previous year. While Argentina has historically been a wheat source, its prominence has grown considerably since the conflict disrupted supplies from Russia and Ukraine. Previously, Bangladesh relied heavily on Russia and Ukraine, with one of them consistently being the top supplier. The increased diversification of sources, including Argentina, Canada, the United States, and Brazil, has reduced supply chain risks, although international market prices and geopolitical situations continue to influence Bangladesh's wheat imports. Canada remains a strong second, supplying 1.67 million tons (22.5%), while the United States has re-entered the market after a hiatus, providing 744,000 tons (10%), primarily through government imports. Brazil's imports also saw an increase, reaching 476,000 tons (6.41%), though it was supplied at a slightly lower price per ton than Argentina.