USGBC Reconnects With Bangladeshi Buyers Through Corn Marketing Conference

The U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council (USGBC) has taken steps to reestablish its presence in the Bangladeshi market with a series of meetings and a dedicated corn marketing conference, aiming to boost sales of U.S. feed grains to the South Asian nation.

The initiative included one-on-one discussions with poultry industry representatives, where Council officials presented data on the quality and availability of the 2024/25 U.S. corn crop. They also highlighted the United States as the most reliable and efficient logistical option for coarse grain purchases.

“Bangladesh is one of the most important markets in South Asia, as they are customers of U.S. distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) while also being the only market in the region that does not have restrictions on genetically-modified corn imports,” said Alexander Grabois, USGBC manager of global strategies and trade. “Moreover, Bangladesh has a sizeable annual coarse grain demand of 1.4 million metric tons, and its traditional suppliers are not able to meet the needs of the market.”

The visit culminated in the 2025 Bangladesh Corn Marketing Conference, which brought together 31 participants from the country’s feed industry. Key topics included an in-depth look at the Bangladeshi feed market, the proven performance of U.S. corn in poultry diets, the 2024/25 Corn Export Cargo Quality Report, and best practices for tropical grain storage.

Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy to Bangladesh, Ambassador Tracey Ann Jacobson, delivered welcoming remarks, emphasizing the growing trade relationship between the two countries and the potential for expanding coarse grain imports.

Bangladesh has not imported bulk volumes of U.S. corn since 2017, when it purchased just under 55,000 metric tons (2,165,240 bushels). Historically, the nation sourced most of its corn from India. However, India’s domestic ethanol blending program has reduced its exportable supplies, prompting Bangladeshi buyers to seek alternative suppliers.

“For the Council, continuing to engage our Bangladeshi customers is paramount to ensuring they are able to grow their feed operations while using a feedstock that is high performing and currently the most economical option,” said Kurt Shultz, USGBC senior director of global strategies. “They are very important DDGS customers, who prefer U.S. origin over others in the market, which makes it even more essential that U.S. corn becomes a preferred option as well. We look forward to them soon becoming regular buyers of U.S. coarse grains.”

By promoting the quality, reliability, and cost advantages of U.S. corn, the USGBC hopes to position itself as a key supplier to Bangladesh’s growing feed industry and renew a trading relationship that has been dormant for nearly a decade.