Egypt’s wheat imports fell by 8% in 2025

Egypt’s wheat imports declined by around 8% in 2025 to 13.2 million tonnes, according to an official document obtained by Asharq. The drop was driven by higher global prices, weaker domestic demand for subsidised bread, and a steady expansion of locally produced wheat.

The decline came as global wheat prices rose by about 6% in 2025 to roughly $250 per tonne. Market participants say the higher price environment coincided with structural shifts in Egypt’s domestic market, reducing the country’s reliance on imports.

Hisham Suleiman, director of Mediterranean Star Trading and Grain Import Company, told Asharq that imports were also affected by lower demand for “fino” bread amid declining purchasing power, as well as the return of large numbers of Syrian and Sudanese refugees to their home countries.

Wheat imports are expected to continue falling in 2026 as the government pursues a policy of cutting dependence on foreign wheat by expanding domestic production and procurement. In 2025, government wheat imports dropped more sharply than total imports, falling 15% to about 4.5 million tonnes.

Official data show that the government received around 4 million tonnes of locally produced wheat in the 2025 season, up about 18% year on year. Authorities aim to further increase domestic procurement to 4.5–5 million tonnes next season, even as Egypt remains one of the world’s largest wheat buyers.

Tags: Egypt, wheat, imports