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Egypt has purchased approximately 4.9 million tons of local wheat since the beginning of the season.

The supply season continues until mid-August.

3 weeks ago

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Egypt has purchased approximately 4.9 million tons of wheat since the start of the season.

Written by Ziad Abdel Fattah:

Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister EgyptThe government has successfully purchased approximately 4.9 million tons of local wheat since the start of the current supply season, as part of the state's efforts to strengthen strategic reserves and secure market needs.

According to official procurement data seen by Reuters, the total amount supplied up to Wednesday was about 4.69 million tons, compared to about 4.6 million tons a month earlier, reflecting the continued pace of supply as the end of the season approaches.

Supply will continue until August

The local wheat supply season in Egypt, which is one of the world’s largest wheat importers, extends from mid-April to mid-August each year, as part of the government’s plan to meet the needs of the subsidized bread system and enhance food security.

The government aims to purchase about 5 million tons of local wheat during the 2026 season, as part of a strategy aimed at increasing reliance on local production, reducing the import bill, and supporting the country's reserves of strategic commodities.

The relevant authorities continue to receive wheat from farmers through approved storage sites and silos, while providing the necessary facilities to ensure the regularity of supply operations until the end of the season.

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Egypt is one of the world's largest wheat importers, typically importing around 10 million tons annually. The government buys about half of that amount as part of a bread subsidy program that supports around 70 million people. This outcome should alleviate the shortage of foreign currency and the broader pressure on the budget.

The latest steps began in August of last year when Egypt raised the price it would pay farmers for wheat for the 2026 season by 7%, and then came another increase in March, a month before the harvest began, bringing the price to about $320 per ton, which is much higher than the international level.

Data from the London Stock Exchange Group showed earlier that the free-on-board (FOB) shipping rate was around $234-$240 per ton of Black Sea wheat.

It is worth noting that the government purchased approximately 3.9 million tons from local farmers last year, during the last season, and needs may change depending on the decision to shift from in-kind support to cash support.