Bangladesh’s dry bulk imports will stabilise in 2026 before rebounding strongly in 2027 following two years of sharp decline amid foreign exchange pressure, political transition and weak domestic demand, according to Interport Group.
In an advisory report, the global maritime consultancy said the country’s total imports of 11 key dry bulk commodities will rise from an estimated 22.28 million tonnes in 2025 to 24 million tonnes in 2026.
The import volume will then jump to 38.10 million tonnes in 2027, said the report, styled “Bangladesh’s Dry Bulk Cargo Import Volume Prediction: 2026–2027.”
Interport noted that Bangladesh’s dry bulk imports are entering a transition rather than structural decline.
And while the near-term outlook remains cautious, underlying demand drivers point to normalisation followed by recovery in 2027, it said.
Interport Advisory Services, the strategic consulting arm of Interport Group, published the report on 1 December after reviewing 10 years of data on the imports of 11 categories of dry bulk cargo through Chattogram port.
Tanjil Ahmed Ruhullah, managing director of Interport Group, told TIMES of Bangladesh that the report offers a timely, data-driven assessment of Bangladesh’s dry bulk trade.
He said the recent downturn should be viewed as a consequence of the country’s macroeconomic and political adjustments rather than a structural decline in demand.
The contrasting outlook, marked by weaker construction-related imports alongside resilient food and feed cargoes, closely reflects real market conditions.
Meanwhile, the projected rebound in 2027 underscores the importance of faster implementation of the Annual Development Programme (ADP) along with stronger policy predictability, Ruhullah said.
For Interport’s partners, such as regional shipowners, this period of stabilisation should be an opportunity to strengthen operational efficiency and resilience, shifting the focus from merely managing capacity to enhancing port productivity and loss prevention.
He added that Interport Group believes transparency and data-driven foresight remain essential to safely and effectively navigating these policy-sensitive trades across the Bay of Bengal.
Commodity imports related to construction, such as crushed stone and cement clinker, were the most affected during the 2024-25 downturn, reflecting stalled real estate activity and historically low ADP implementation.
Besides, ferrous waste and scrap imports, which reached roughly 5 million tonnes in 2024, fell sharply in 2025 as steel demand weakened and liquidity tightened.
As per Interport’s forecast, scrap imports are expected to remain subdued at around 1.9 million tonnes in 2026 before rebounding to nearly 2.8 million tonnes in 2027 as infrastructure projects resume amid improving public confidence.
A similar pattern is projected for crushed stone and gabbro, which are essential inputs for roads, bridges and mega projects.
Imports of these materials are projected to hit about 4.13 million tonnes in 2026 followed by a sharp rebound to 8.54 million tonnes in 2027 as delayed projects resume execution.
Cement clinker imports are expected to stay weak in 2026 at about 7.84 million tonnes but recover to more than 12 million tonnes in 2027, reconnecting with longer-term demand trends prior to the recent slowdown.
“The demand for construction remains cautious in 2026 due to delayed budgets and weak business sentiment,” the report said. “But a strong rebound is expected in 2027 once political direction stabilises and ADP projects restart.”
In contrast, imports of food and feed are projected to show steady growth throughout the forecast period, supported by population growth, stable global prices and local policies prioritising food security.
Wheat imports are expected to increase from 1.47 million tonnes in 2026 to 3.05 million tonnes in 2027. Similarly, imports of maize are forecast to rise from 0.52 million tonnes in 2026 to around 1 million tonnes in 2027 as feed demand strengthens.
Soybean imports are also expected to recover from depressed levels, climbing from 0.51 million tonnes to 1.14 million tonnes over the same period, it added.
Likewise, chickpea imports are projected to increase modestly, driven by seasonal demand for Ramadan along with efforts to stabilise prices.
However, raw sugar imports will likely remain weak at around 0.61 million tonnes in both 2026 and 2027, reflecting the continued slowdown among domestic refineries
The report noted that a meaningful recovery in this regard depends on local refineries restarting operations or the entry of new players in the sector.
Coal imports, which expanded rapidly over the past decade for the commissioning of coal-fired power plants, are expected to remain stable rather than grow aggressively.
Interport forecasts coal imports of around 6.76 million tonnes in 2026 and 8.36 million tonnes in 2027 as existing power plants operate as baseload facilities.
No new major coal plants are expected to come online before 2027, limiting further growth.
“Demand for coal has reached a plateau, but it will continue to provide steady, policy-sensitive import volumes critical for Bangladesh’s power generation,” the report said.
Urea imports, which declined sharply following global supply disruptions, are expected to rise gradually as new government-to-government agreements secure supply and financing improves, it added.
Interport Advisory Services also highlighted the country’s sustained importance as a major dry bulk destination in the Bay of Bengal, particularly for the Handysize, Supramax and Panamax bulk carriers serving construction materials, coal and grains.
