Bangladesh to Import $1.25 Billion Worth of US Soy to Strengthen Food and Feed Security

Bangladesh’s leading soy value chain companies — Meghna Group of Industries, City Group, Delta Agrofood Industries Ltd., Mahbub Group, and KGS Group — have signed letters of intent to import US soybeans and soybean meal worth $1.25 billion over the next 12 months, according to the US Soybean Export Council (USSEC).

This agreement marks a significant boost in bilateral agricultural trade between the two nations. Both parties have agreed to collaborate on market development and promote protein consumption in Bangladesh through USSEC’s “Right to Protein” campaign, which advocates for healthy and balanced diets across the region.

According to the US Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), soybean crushing in Bangladesh is forecast to increase in 2025–26 as feed production expands. The country’s poultry, dairy, and aquaculture sectors continue to show rapid growth, supported by the rising use of formulated feed.

The FAS projects Bangladesh’s total soybean imports to reach 2.4 million tonnes in 2025–26 — a 9% increase from the previous year. Soybean meal now constitutes nearly 30% of all feed ingredients used nationwide. Industry leaders in Bangladesh view this as a major step toward strengthening domestic processing capacity and improving food security.

In 2024, US soybeans were Bangladesh’s top agricultural import, valued at $350 million, according to USDA data. Bangladesh has emerged as the largest South Asian market for US soybeans, with soybean meal imports rising 650% from the prior year. Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s exports to the United States totaled $8.78 billion in 2024, reflecting deepening trade ties.

The American Soybean Association (ASA), representing nearly half a million US soybean farmers, welcomed the commitment, noting that it enhances Bangladesh’s protein supply while creating new opportunities for US agriculture.

Operating in 93 countries, the USSEC promotes the use of US soy in food, aquaculture, and livestock feed. It encompasses the entire soy value chain — farmers, processors, exporters, and agribusinesses — supported by funding from the Soy Checkoff, the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, and industry partners.

The $1.25 billion agreement positions Bangladesh as a key regional market for US soy and underscores a shared commitment to sustainable agriculture, industrial growth, and global food security.