Bangladesh Turns to India as Black Sea Wheat Disruptions Bite

The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war has disrupted grain shipments from the Black Sea region, forcing Bangladesh to seek alternative wheat suppliers. One such country is India, which had previously restricted wheat exports in May 2022 due to domestic price concerns.

Bangladesh needs to import over 7 million tonnes of wheat annually, with India accounting for nearly 70% of its purchases before the export ban. The country has since turned to other suppliers, including Argentina, Canada, Russia, and Ukraine, with about 40% of imports coming from the Black Sea region.

Now that India has reopened its wheat exports through specified quotas in 2026, Bangladesh is taking advantage of this opportunity to meet its wheat needs. The Indian wheat shipments will primarily move by rail, with delivered prices ranging from $305 to $326 a tonne.