The Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission has recommended imposing a 25% regulatory duty (RD) on the export of refined and crude rice bran oil. The goal is to stabilize the edible oil market, increase the availability of alternative cooking oils locally, and supply subsidized oil to marginalized communities. The commission believes that such a measure, especially ahead of Ramadan, could improve the supply and pricing of edible oil in the domestic market. A letter outlining these recommendations has been sent to the Ministry of Commerce and the National Board of Revenue (NBR).

Currently, Bangladesh produces around 5.5 million metric tons of paddy annually, from which 600,000–700,000 metric tons of rice bran oil can potentially be extracted. Despite having significant refining capacity, a considerable amount of crude rice bran oil is exported, particularly to neighboring India, which affects the local supply. In response, the commission has proposed extending the existing 25% export duty on rice bran to include both refined and crude rice bran oil.

The commission also emphasized that increasing the domestic supply of rice bran oil could mitigate the effects of rising prices for imported soybean and palm oils, which fulfill 90% of the country’s edible oil demand. With an estimated potential to meet 25–30% of this demand, domestic rice bran oil production could also benefit local industries such as poultry and fish feed production. Consequently, the commission has urged the Ministry of Commerce to implement these recommendations promptly to stabilize the local market and ensure adequate supply during the upcoming Ramadan season.