Egypt to Receive 189,000 Tons of Russian, Romanian and Ukrainian Wheat within Days

The Egyptian Ministry of Supply confirmed the regularity of the supply chain of imported wheat contracted from multiple origins, thus enhancing the strategic reserve of wheat.

According to today’s statement by Ali el-Moselhi, Minister of Supply and Internal Trade, a shipment of 189,000 tons of wheat has been concluded from different sources, including 63,000 tons of Russian wheat In addition to 63,000 tons of Romanian wheat and 63,000 tons from Ukraine, these shipments will arrive at Egyptian ports in the coming days.

He added that wheat shipments with a quantity of 126,000 tons have already arrived, including French wheat with a quantity of 63,000 tons to Egyptian ports on March 8, and a shipment of Romanian wheat with a quantity of 63,000 tons on March 5.

It is worth noting that Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister of Egypt, confirmed that Egypt's wheat reserves are sufficient for 4 months, and therefore the country is in no need to purchase any additional shipments during that period.

Madbouly said that as of mid-April, the wheat harvest season will begin, assuring Egyptians, "that we, as a country, have no need or resort to the global market until the end of this year."

On March 10, the Egyptian Ministry of Trade and Industry decided not to allow the export of beans, gravel, mashedush, lentils, pasta, wheat and flour of all kinds, for a period of 3 months.

On his part, the Egyptian Minister of Finance Mohamed Maait said that the rise in wheat prices in global markets will lead to an increase in the cost of Egypt’s imports of this commodity, with a value ranging between EGP 12 to 15 billion in the budget for the current fiscal year 2021/22.

Egypt is the largest importer of wheat in the world, and it imported about 12.9 million tons in 2020 for the government and the private sector at a value of $3.2 billion, according to data from the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS).

Egypt expects the volume of government imports of wheat to decrease in 2022 to 5.3 million tons, “supported by increased production locally.” Egypt’s government imports of wheat reached 5.5 million tons in 2021.

Egypt is seeking to purchase 4 million tons of local wheat in the 2022 season, an increase of 11% over last year, when it bought 3.6 million tons from farmers.

The wheat planting season starts from mid-November until the end of January, while the harvest season starts from mid-April until mid-July.