Egypt raises local wheat procurement to 4 MMT in 2025 harvest drive

Egypt, the world’s largest wheat importer, has secured nearly 4 million metric tons (MMT) of wheat from its 2025 local harvest, marking a year-on-year increase of more than 500,000 tons compared to the 3.43MMT purchased in 2024.

Ahmad Idam, head of the services sector at the Ministry of Agriculture, confirmed the figures, noting that the government had set a target of 4–5MMT out of an estimated 10MMT total crop.

The procurement window ran from mid-April through mid-August, with deliveries channeled into Egypt’s strategic reserves and subsidised bread program.

This year’s stronger performance reflects tighter coordination between the agriculture, supply, and finance ministries, as well as improved logistics at over 400 collection centers nationwide.

Alongside domestic procurement, Egypt has begun reshaping its wheat import strategy. The Future of Egypt (FoE) agency, a military-linked body, recently struck deals to buy at least 200,000 tons of French wheat, with additional cargoes expected to bring total purchases closer to 400,000 tons.

Traders report the deals include extended 270-day credit terms, helping ease pressure on Egypt’s tight foreign currency reserves. A 63,000-ton shipment is scheduled to arrive in mid-September.

To further stabilize food supply and prices, Egypt’s Agricultural Research Center (ARC) has entered into a strategic partnership with the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) to boost national wheat production capacity through a US$40 million investment.

The agreement, signed on July 16, is part of the 2024 Knowledge and Action for Food Initiative (KAFI), a European Union–funded program aimed at enhancing grain systems and food security in Egypt.

The partnership focuses on modernizing Egypt’s wheat value chain through technical and institutional upgrades.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the initiative will support the supply of modern farming equipment, upgrade varietal selection laboratories, and establish certified seed production units. These components are designed to scale up the availability of improved wheat seeds and promote mechanization to enhance farm-level productivity.

Tags: imports, procurement, strategic reserves, Egypt, prices, wheat, purchases