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After breakfast or in restaurants, wheat food is most
commonly used after rice. Even a year ago, Russia-Ukraine wheat products were
included in this list. Because even a year ago, 44 percent of the wheat
imported into the country came from the two countries.
Due to the war, wheat has not been coming from the two
countries for six months. It has changed the main source of wheat import.
Wheat-based foods that are now on the table do not contain wheat grown by
Russian-Ukrainian farmers. Neighboring India has occupied the place of
Russia-Ukraine.
After the start of the Russia-Ukraine war last February 24,
the source of import of at least eight products, including wheat, has changed.
The products are mustard seeds, peas, sunflower oil, rods, sponge iron,
fertilizer, newsprint etc. Traders are fulfilling the needs of the country by
importing these products from alternative countries. In this, the products of
the new country are getting a place on the dining table or in use.
Overall, the amount of import of Bangladesh from
Russia-Ukraine is not much. According to the National Board of Revenue (NBR),
the two countries imported 22 Lakh tonnes of goods worth $195 Crore in the
fiscal year 2021-22. If we calculate the exchange rate of 95 taka per dollar,
the amount in Bangladeshi currency is Taka 18 thousand 525 crore. After the
start of the war, imports from both countries decreased. Now mainly the
machinery of Rooppur nuclear power plant is imported from Russia. Against the
credits that were opened before the war, some goods are being imported. But it
is also decreasing.
Russia-Ukraine mainly imported low-fat wheat. Sometimes Russia was the top country in importing wheat to Bangladesh, sometimes it was Ukraine. Import of wheat from these two countries started 17-18 years ago. A few groups including Chittagong's TK, S Alam Group were importers of Russia-Ukraine wheat in the beginning. Flour is mainly made from this wheat. Such wheat was relatively cheap in Russia-Ukraine. When war stopped imports from Russia-Ukraine, a low-fat wheat alternative was at hand—neighboring India. India is also the oldest source of wheat. As a result, there was no rush to find alternative import sources. Even though the country has controlled the export of wheat, wheat is still being imported from India against the old loan. India has replaced Russia-Ukraine as the top source of wheat imports.
Before the war, Russia-Ukraine were among the top 10 source
countries for imports of many commodities such as wheat. Let's talk about
mustard seeds. A year ago, Ukraine was the third largest importer of black
mustard seed after Canada and Australia. Now dependence on Australia is more
than ever. Russia was the top source of white mustard imports. Traders are now
looking for new destinations like India as imports from Russia have stopped.
Russia was the second largest source of pea imports after
Canada. Ukraine was in the fourth position. Traders are running to new
destinations after the war stopped imports from Russia-Ukraine. One of two new
destinations is Australia. Sunflower oil was mostly imported from Russia.
Ukraine was in fifth position. In the current financial year 2022-23, the
dependence on Italy, Turkey, China and Spain for sunflower oil import has
increased.
Abul Bashar Chowdhury, chairman of BSM Group, a consumer goods importing company, said that the products which were imported from Russia-Ukraine are now being imported from alternative sources.
Not only consumer goods, the war also changed the source of
imports for industrial raw materials or fertilizers. Even a year ago, 32
percent of Murate of Potash fertilizer was imported from Russia. Russia was in
second position after Belarus. After the war, the import of this fertilizer
stopped. Now Turkmenistan has emerged as the third new source in the list of
imports of Murate of Potash fertilizer. The main source is Canada. Belarus has
taken Russia's place.
Again several hundred thousand tons of sponge iron are
required for the manufacture of rods. The main sources of this sponge iron were
India and Russia. As the import from Russia has stopped, it is now coming only
from India.
If you read the paper, you know another fact. Russia was the
second largest source of newsprint imports after Korea. Canada has now become
the main source after imports from Russia stopped. Indonesia has also been
added to the list of import source countries.
Now there is no restriction on imports from Russia-Ukraine.
Still, the goods are not being imported due to uncertainty. The cost of
shipping increased due to the war. Imports from Russia-Ukraine have not yet
started in the private sector as import costs are higher than the local market.
However, the government-level proposal to import five lakh wheat from Russia
was approved in the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Procurement last week.
After a long hiatus, once the importation is over, food made from wheat from
Russia or Ukraine can be on the table again.
|Source: Online/SZK
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