52,500 tonnes of wheat from Russia arrive at Kutubdia

Staff Reporter :

A ship carrying 52,500 tonnes of wheat from Russia reached the outer anchorage of Chattogram’s Kutubdia on Monday, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Food.

It stated that under a cash purchase agreement signed on July 7, the vessel MV Parthi carrying 52,500 tonnes of wheat from Russia arrived at Kutubdia outer anchorage.

Testing of wheat samples from the vessel has already been completed, while necessary steps have been taken to ensure speedy unloading of the consignment.

It was mentioned that out of the total 52,500 tonnes, 31,500 tonnes will be discharged at Chattogram port and the remaining 21,000 tonnes at Mongla port.

The arrival of the fresh wheat from aboard is a key development in efforts to stabilize the country’s wheat supply amidst global market volatility.

According to the Food Ministry’s press release, the shipment was procured under a government-to-government cash purchase agreement signed on July 7.

After quality inspection of the wheat samples, arrangements are underway to unload the consignment – 31,500 tonnes will be offloaded in Chattogram and 21,000 tonnes at Mongla port.

This delivery comes at a critical time when Bangladesh’s domestic demand for wheat continues to outpace production.

The country consumes an estimated 7-8 million tonnes of wheat annually, while domestic output is only around 1 million tonnes. As a result, over 85% of the country’s wheat needs are met through imports.

Russia, one of the largest global wheat exporters, has emerged as a consistent supplier to Bangladesh in recent years.

In 2022 and 2023, disruptions in global grain markets due to the Russia-Ukraine war and Black Sea trade restrictions pushed Bangladesh to diversify its wheat import sources.

Traditionally, Bangladesh relied heavily on wheat imports from Russia, Ukraine, Canada, Australia, and India. However, the outbreak of war severely curtailed supplies from Ukraine, once a major exporter to Bangladesh.

At the same time, India – another key partner – imposed export bans on wheat in May 2022 to protect domestic stocks, creating further uncertainty.

Faced with these challenges, Bangladesh turned more directly to Russia for government-to-government deals. In late 2022, the Food Ministry signed agreements to import several hundred thousand tonnes of Russian wheat, delivered in phases.

These shipments not only ensured steady supplies for public distribution but also helped stabilize flour prices in local markets, where volatility was causing hardship for consumers.

In addition to Russia, Bangladesh has continued importing wheat from other sources. Canada and Australia, known for high-quality grains, supply smaller but important quantities. The United States also exports wheat to Bangladesh under various trade arrangements.

However, the cost of North American and Australian wheat tends to be higher compared to Russian grain, which is why government-to-government deals with Russia are considered both strategic and cost-effective.