Egypt strengthens its lead in wheat production among Arab countries

Egypt is expected to produce around 10.2 mln tons of wheat in 2026, remaining the largest producer among Arab countries. According to FAO estimates, production will be about 7% above the average level, mainly due to an expansion in planted area.

Morocco and Iraq are expected to rank next, producing 5 mln tons of wheat each. Algeria is projected to harvest around 3.5 mln tons, followed by Tunisia with 1.4 mln tons and Saudi Arabia with 1.1 mln tons.

Compared with 9.4 mln tons produced in 2025, Egypt’s wheat output is expected to increase by 6.5%. Higher domestic production could reduce wheat imports to around 12.5 mln tons from 13.2 mln tons a year earlier. Despite the increase in production, Egypt will remain one of the world’s largest wheat importers.

Egypt’s wheat planted area expanded to 3.76 mln feddans, up by around 600 thsd feddans from the previous season. By the end of the procurement campaign, farmers had delivered about 5 mln tons of wheat to the government, the highest volume ever recorded under the state procurement program.

To encourage production, the government set the wheat procurement price at EGP 2,500 per ardeb. Egypt is also expanding the use of high-yielding and climate-tolerant wheat varieties. Higher domestic production is expected to strengthen the country’s food security and gradually reduce its dependence on imported wheat.

Tags: Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, wheat, Iraq, Morocco, crop forecast