DHAKA, BANGLADESH (RFD-TV) — With China halting purchases of American soybeans after a renewed tariff dispute, Bangladesh is emerging as a key new buyer — snapping up surplus U.S. supplies at bargain prices.
The Daily Star reports that Bangladeshi importers and crushers are taking advantage of a widening price gap, with U.S. soybeans selling for about $470 per ton, compared to $490 or more for Brazilian cargoes. The shift comes as Chinese tariffs of 20 percent have sharply reduced U.S. exports to their once-top destination, leaving farmers with excess stock and lower farm-gate prices.
Deputy General Manager Taslim Shahriar of Meghna Group of Industries told The Daily Star that his company now sources 80 percent of its soybeans from the U.S., up from 40 percent before the tariff change, citing both cost savings and higher seed quality.
U.S. shipments to Bangladesh jumped to roughly 400,000 tons over August and September — double the previous two-month total — and made up nearly 87 percent of all soybeans imported in September, according to the U.S. Soybean Export Council.
Industry leaders say the trend could modestly narrow the U.S.-Bangladesh trade gap, which remains heavily in Dhaka’s favor, and reinforce the Trump administration’s goal of reducing bilateral deficits. Bangladesh’s crushers are forecast to process a record 2.4 million tons of soybeans in the 2025-26 marketing year, up more than 9 percent as the country benefits from global supply reshuffling.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Bangladesh’s buying surge offers temporary relief for U.S. farmers facing weaker Chinese demand, highlighting how global politics can reshape export outlets overnight.
Tony St. James, RFD-TV Markets Expert
House Agriculture Committee Democrats are calling for action on the Farm and Family Relief Act, warning that proposed SNAP cost shifts to states could reduce food assistance for low-income families amid ongoing tariffs and trade disruptions that continue to strain U.S. farmers.
January 15, 2026 12:30 PM
·
RFD News correspondent Frank McCaffrey reports from Texas on the ongoing water dispute and its implications for U.S. farmers.
January 14, 2026 12:17 PM
·
RealAg Radio host Shaun Haney discusses the latest developments in the Supreme Court, trade tariffs, and the future of the USMCA under President Donald Trump.
January 14, 2026 11:54 AM
·
Freight volatility increasingly determines export margins, making logistics costs as important as price in marketing decisions.
January 14, 2026 06:00 AM
·
China’s beef policy risk stems from domestic volatility, making export demand inherently unstable. Jake Charleston with Specialty Risk Insurance offers his perspective on cattle markets, risk management, and producer sentiment.
January 13, 2026 02:13 PM
·
USDA flash corn sales, Cattle on Feed and Inventory reports, and beef packer antitrust concerns dominate January agricultural market news.
January 13, 2026 01:53 PM
·
Larger grain stocks increase supply pressure, but strong fall disappearance — especially for corn and sorghum — suggests demand remains an important offset.
January 13, 2026 01:02 PM
·
Record corn and sorghum crops boost feed grain supplies, while reduced soybean and cotton production tighten outlooks for oilseeds and fiber markets.
January 13, 2026 12:53 PM
·
Lewis Williamson with HTS Commodities joined us to provide analysis on the January WASDE report and expectations for grain markets going forward.
January 13, 2026 12:34 PM
·
