Food grain imports hit 1.12m tonnes in three months

FE Team | Published: March 24, 2011 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

Jasim Uddin Haroon
The country's food grain import got a fresh momentum in January-March period this year as 65 vessels carried 1.12 million tonnes of staple food over the three months, according to the port intelligence. Some 25 vessels carried a total of 328,419 tonnes of rice during the period of which the government imported 242,746 tonnes carried by 17 vessels and the private sector brought 85,673 tonnes carried by eight ships. Some 40 ships carried a total of 791,918 tonnes of wheat during the period. Of this, 27 vessels brought 589,554 tonnes of privately imported wheat while 13 vessels carried 202,364 tonnes of wheat imported by the government. Port officials said they have never seen such a large number of ships carrying food grains in their recent memory. Enamul Karim, terminal manager of Chittagong Port Authority, told the FE: "Everyday vessels carrying food grains are anchoring in the port. This is remarkable." During the January-March period last year, there was no private rice import. Only 40,000 tonnes of rice was imported by the government. However, during the period, private importers procured nearly 400,000 tonnes of wheat, according to the directorate of food. Food Minister Dr Abdur Razzaque said the government has now stocks of 11.15 million tonnes of rice and wheat. He said there is no reason to be concerned about the food situation unless any natural calamity grips the country. The food minister said another consignment of 200,000 tonnes of rice from Vietnam will reach Chittagong Port by March 30. He also said letter of credit (LC) was opened Tuesday for importing 200,000 tonnes of rice from Thailand. Meanwhile officials said in 20 days of March, 28 vessels, the largest number of ships, carrying rice and wheat berthed in the port to discharge the food grains. During the period, the private sector brought 30,506 tonnes of rice and 290,226 tonnes of wheat. Over the same period, the government's rice import was 115,586 tonnes and wheat 28,401 tonnes. In February, 24 vessels carried food grains while in January only 13 bulk carriers called at the port. In February, the government imported 103,125 tonnes of rice and 62,652 tonnes of wheat. Private importers purchased 42,664 tonnes of rice and 160,193 tonnes of wheat in February, port statistics showed. In January, the government imported 14,035 tonnes of rice and 111,311 tonnes of wheat. Private rice import in January was 12,503 tonnes and wheat 139,135 tonnes.