Japan’s leading rice bran oil producer Sanwa Yushi Company has expressed interest in importing crude rice bran oil from Bangladesh.
The company sees a significant opportunity due to Japan’s growing demand for rice bran oil, which accounts for 30 to 40 percent of the nation’s total edible oil consumption.
However, the country’s production capacity falls short of meeting this rising demand, said Yozaemon Yamaguchi, Managing Director of Sanwa Yushi.
He was speaking at a session on “Market Demand and Future Potential of Rice Bran Oil in Bangladesh” held at the FBCCI office in Motijheel on Monday.
Yamaguchi emphasized the potential of importing crude rice bran oil from Bangladesh to meet Japan’s increasing market needs.
“Given the high demand in Japan, we are interested in importing crude rice bran oil from Bangladesh,” he said.
The session was chaired by Mohammad Alamgir, Secretary General of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), who presented a comprehensive report on the market potential, demand, supply chain, and investment opportunities within the edible oil sector in Bangladesh.
During the meeting, Gazi Mahmud Kamal, Business Associate of Bangladesh Sudan Ginning Cotton Company Limited, said that increasing the production and use of rice bran oil could help reduce Bangladesh’s reliance on imported edible oil.
He highlighted that since rice is the country’s primary crop, ample raw material is available locally, providing a strong foundation for the rice bran oil market.
Mohammad Zakir Hossain, former Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture (PRAL), suggested that while several companies in Bangladesh produce rice bran oil, consumer demand remains relatively low. He recommended exploring export markets to boost the industry.
Alamgir also pointed out the potential for Japanese investment and technological collaboration in Bangladesh’s rice bran oil industry, assuring full support from FBCCI if Sanwa Yushi decides to establish a plant in Bangladesh.
The discussion also saw local edible oil producers raising concerns about the export of crude oil, fearing it might lead to a shortage of raw materials in the local market. Some producers opposed the export of crude oil, while others proposed exporting both crude and refined oil.
