Bangladesh's demand for pulses rises sharply in the lead up to Ramadan - and the country looks to reliable supply partners like Australia to meet this increased demand.
In the lead up to Ramadan, Australia shipped 33,000 metric tonnes of desi chickpeas from Queensland to Chattogram, Bangladesh's major port. The shipment included a first-time order facilitated by Austrade with a major Bangladeshi conglomerate. Austrade also supported early engagement and provided commercial connections.
'Australia is well positioned to support Bangladesh's growing food and nutrition needs through a reliable, high-quality and sustainable supply of agricultural commodities,' says Ben Carson, Trade and Investment Commissioner.
'Austrade plays a key role in connecting Australian producers with Bangladeshi importers and supporting long-term food security outcomes for the region."
A major market for Australian pulses
Bangladesh is a significant and growing market for Australian pulses, characterised by consistent, repeat demand, and the country is already one of Australia's top 3 export markets for chickpeas.
Characterised by a relatively open market access environment, Bangladesh has fewer tariff and non-tariff frictions than other regional markets. However, commercial success at scale depends not only on demand and market access, but on whether supply chains can deliver reliably during peak seasonal periods.
The Austrade team on board the vessel that shipped Australian chickpeas to Bangladesh.
Exporting pulses at scale
To learn more about the shipping and logistics process, the Austrade team in Dhaka travelled to Chattogram to observe the arrival of the Australian chickpea shipment.
The vessel was loaded at the Port of Gladstone in Central Queensland and arrived at Chattogram Port's outer anchorage. Due to infrastructure restrictions, the bulk cargo needed to be discharged into smaller lighter vessels of around 1,000-1,200 tonnes for onward movement.
The Austrade team learned:
- how large volume agrifood shipments are handled
- the operational pressures faced by Bangladeshi buyers
- where exporters and shippers need to adapt to remain competitive in the market.
These insights will now inform how Austrade supports Australian exporters looking to scale in Bangladesh.
Looking ahead
Bangladesh remains a priority growth market for Australian agrifood exports. Seasonal demand patterns, population growth and relatively open market access continue to create opportunities for Australian pulses.
Austrade will continue working with Australian exporters, buyers and logistics partners, support repeat orders and convert seasonal demand into sustained commercial outcomes.
