Bangladesh wheat imports jump 30pc in July-October

DHAKA: Bangladesh's wheat imports climbed nearly 30 percent to more than 2.1 million tonnes in July-October from a year earlier, food ministry data showed, with traders expecting the same pace in the coming months.

The South Asian country has emerged as a major buyer of rice and wheat after floods destroyed its latest crops, sending staple rice prices to record highs that prompted many to switch to flour.

Bangladesh imported 5.8 million tonnes of wheat in the year to June 2017, making it one of the world's biggest importer of the grain.