First US wheat shipment arrives at Ctg port

A vessel carrying around 57,000 tonnes of wheat from the United States has docked at Chattogram Port, marking the start of US wheat imports under a government-to-government (G2G) agreement between Bangladesh and the US.

The vessel, MV Norse Stride, anchored at the port to deliver 56,959 tonnes of wheat, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Food.

As per the G2G arrangement, Bangladesh will import a total of 440,000 tonnes of wheat. The current consignment is the first, reaching the outer anchorage of Chattogram Port on Saturday.

The wheat import is being conducted under the agreement between Bangladesh's Directorate General of Food (under the Ministry of Food) and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Sample testing of the imported wheat has already started, and necessary steps are being taken to unload the wheat after quality checks, the press release added.

Of the 56,959 tonnes of wheat, 34,170 tonnes will be unloaded at Chattogram Port, while the remaining 22,789 tonnes will be offloaded at Mongla Port.

Bangladesh's annual wheat demand exceeds 7 million tonnes, with local production accounting for only 1.1 million tonnes. The rest of the demand is met through imports.

Russia is the largest supplier, accounting for 54 per cent of Bangladesh's wheat imports in the last fiscal year. Ukraine is the second-largest source, accounting for 14 per cent of imports, followed by India.

Sources said the government recently decided to import wheat from the United States to help reduce the trade gap between the two countries, thereby avoiding potential US tariffs on Bangladeshi products.

The wheat is being purchased through Agrocrop International, a company authorised by the US Wheat Associates, at a price of $302 per tonne.

The Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase approved the proposal for this G2G wheat deal on July 23.

tonmoy.wardad@gmail.com