Sanwa Yushi Company Limited, a leading Japanese rice bran oil producer, has expressed interest in importing crude rice bran oil from Bangladesh, according to its Managing Director Yozaemon Yamaguchi.

The announcement came during a discussion titled “Market Demand and Future Prospects of Rice Bran Oil in Bangladesh” held Monday at the FBCCI office in Motijheel, Dhaka.

The session was presided over by Md. Alamgir, Secretary General of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), who presented a report on Bangladesh’s edible oil market, including demand, supply chains, and investment potential. Local business leaders from the rice bran oil industry also attended.

Yamaguchi noted that rice bran oil producers supply 30 to 40 percent of Japan’s total edible oil demand, but domestic production capacity falls short of consumption.

Given the high demand in Japan, we are interested in sourcing crude rice bran oil from Bangladesh,” he said.

During the meeting, Gazi Mahmud Kamal, Business Associate of Bangladesh Sudan Jining Cotton Company Limited, said increasing rice bran oil production and usage domestically could reduce dependence on imported edible oils.

He highlighted that rice, being the country’s main crop, provides ample raw material locally, making the market highly promising.

Former Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture (PRL) Md. Zakir Hossain added that while several companies produce rice bran oil in Bangladesh, consumer demand remains comparatively low.

In such a scenario, we can explore export opportunities, he said.

FBCCI Secretary General Md. Alamgir called for Japanese investment and technical cooperation in Bangladesh’s rice bran oil sector, assuring that the federation would provide all possible support if Sanwa Yushi sets up a facility in the country.

Local producers attending the discussion raised concerns that exporting crude oil could create raw material shortages domestically.

While some opposed exporting crude oil, others suggested exporting both crude and refined rice bran oil to Japan.

Valuable insights on various aspects of the rice bran oil industry were also shared by Md. Abdul Haque, former FBCCI director, and Md. Zakir Hossain Noyon, member of FBCCI’s General Council.