After a gap of eight years, a large shipment of corn from the United States has officially arrived in Bangladesh, signaling a renewed chapter in bilateral agricultural trade. The mother vessel MV Beltokio, which departed from the Port of Vancouver in Washington State, entered Bangladesh’s maritime territory on December 31. On Wednesday, January 7, the formal unloading process began at Chattogram Port.

Industry stakeholders believe this import will introduce a new, high quality source of raw materials for Bangladesh’s animal feed sector, particularly poultry and dairy feed. This is the first consignment of US corn to reach the country since 2018.

The shipment was officially welcomed at the Confidence Cement jetty by Erin Covert, Agricultural Attaché of the US Embassy in Bangladesh. During her visit, she exchanged views with importers and suppliers involved in the consignment.

The cargo contains nearly 58,000 metric tons of corn grown in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota. The shipment has been jointly imported by three of Bangladesh’s leading animal feed producers: Nahar Agro Group, Paragon Group, and Nourish Poultry & Hatchery Limited. Of the total volume, Nourish will receive 29,000 tons, Paragon 19,000 tons, and Nahar Agro 10,000 tons. The corn will be unloaded at Chattogram, Narayanganj, and Noapara ports.

According to shipping and logistics data, the journey from the United States to Bangladesh took approximately 46 days. Importers note that while corn from India typically arrives within 10 to 15 days and shipments from Brazil or Argentina take 30 to 35 days, US corn requires close to 60 days when loading and unloading times are included.

The import price has been set at 246 US dollars per ton, with the estimated landing cost at Chattogram Port reaching around BDT 34 per kilogram.

Nahar Agro Group Chairman Rakibur Rahman Totul stated that Bangladesh meets only about 30 percent of its corn demand through domestic production, while the remaining 70 percent depends on imports. Although US soybean is regularly used in the country, he emphasized that access to high quality US corn has long been a critical need. Despite the longer transit time, he said, the quality of US corn remains unmatched.

Erin Covert described the arrival of the shipment as more than a commercial transaction, calling it a milestone in agricultural trade relations between Bangladesh and the United States. She noted that US corn is globally recognized for its quality and expressed optimism that Bangladeshi feed producers would benefit from a reliable and advanced source of animal nutrition.

Traditionally, Bangladesh imports corn from Brazil, Argentina, and Myanmar. However, sustained efforts by the US Embassy and improved loading point management have helped make this long awaited commercial trial successful. Importers believe that regular supplies of US corn could significantly improve feed quality while fostering a more competitive market.