Bangladesh buys nearly 7× more corn from Brazil

Brazilian corn exports to Bangladesh have registered explosive growth, surging 576% between 2023 and 2025. The movement cements a durable shift in global trade routes for one of the world's most critical feed grains, positioning Brazil as a primary supplier to a rapidly growing market. This is not a short-term spike but a structural realignment that commodity traders, logistics operators, and agricultural producers must factor into their strategic planning.

The trade flow, which stood at a modest US$ 40.25 million in 2023, has transformed into a major export artery worth US$ 272.27 million just two years later. This trajectory underscores both Brazil's immense production capacity, particularly from its second-harvest "safrinha" crop, and Bangladesh's rising import demand to support its domestic food and animal feed sectors.

Year by year

The narrative of this growth is one of dramatic acceleration followed by strong consolidation. The foundation was set in 2023 with a US$ 40.25 million baseline. The breakout year was 2024, when exports skyrocketed by 418% to reach US$ 208.72 million. This phenomenal leap established Bangladesh as a top-tier destination for Brazilian corn virtually overnight.

Critically, the trend held. In 2025, the trade expanded by another 30.4%, adding over US$ 63 million in value to close the year at US$ 272.27 million. This follow-on growth demonstrates that the 2024 surge was not an anomaly driven by a one-off event but the beginning of a sustained commercial relationship. The market has found a new equilibrium at a much higher plateau.

What's sustaining the move

This sustained export boom is underpinned by fundamental market factors rather than fleeting circumstances. First and foremost is Brazil's consistent ability to produce massive, exportable surpluses of corn. Successive record-breaking harvests have allowed Brazilian sellers to offer competitive volumes on the global market, meeting new sources of demand.

Second, global grain markets have been recalibrating. Importers like Bangladesh are actively diversifying their supplier base to ensure food security and mitigate risks associated with geopolitical tensions or climate events in other producing regions. Brazil has proven to be a reliable, large-scale partner capable of filling supply gaps.

Finally, a competitive currency exchange rate has often provided a tailwind for Brazilian commodity exports, making them more attractive on a dollar basis compared to competitors. This allows Brazilian producers to maintain healthy margins while offering sharp pricing to destinations as far-flung as South Asia.

Practical implications

This multi-year trend presents clear action points for operators across the supply chain.

For exporters: Bangladesh is no longer an opportunistic spot market but a strategic, long-term destination. Securing dedicated vessel capacity and building direct relationships with Bangladeshi importers is now critical. Contract negotiation should anticipate sustained high volumes, not treat them as a temporary windfall.

For importers: Brazilian corn is a consistent and high-volume sourcing option. Buyers in Bangladesh and the wider region should actively monitor Brazil's planting intentions and weather patterns for the safrinha crop, as this will be the primary driver of price and availability for the back half of the year. Locking in supply contracts early can mitigate exposure to freight rate volatility on this long-haul route.

Source: MDIC ComexStat

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