Egypt procures 4.7M tons of wheat harvest
Egypt’s domestic wheat procurement rose nearly 20% from last year, but the government said it surpassed its target after adding durum wheat and seed stocks.
EGYPT – Egypt procured 4.72 million metric tons of wheat from its 2026 domestic harvest, according to a government document seen by Reuters, as the country works to cut its dependence on overseas supplies.
The harvest ran from mid-April to mid-August, with government purchases rising from just under 4 million tons in 2025. The latest figure, however, remained below the government’s 5 million-ton target when measured against its standard procurement total.
Egypt remains one of the world’s largest wheat importers and usually buys about 10 million tons from overseas each year. The government purchases around half of that volume for its subsidised bread programme, which supports about 70 million people.
The government has introduced higher wheat prices, better seeds and expanded wheat production on reclaimed desert land as it seeks to raise local output. It also plans to replace its food subsidy system with cash payments during the 2026 to 2027 financial year.
Agriculture Minister Alaa Farouk told Reuters in May that Egypt aims to reach self-sufficiency in wheat for subsidised bread by 2028.
The supply ministry said the 4.72 million tons did not include durum wheat bought by pasta factories or wheat held as seed for the 2027 planting season. When those volumes are added, the ministry said total procurement exceeded the 5 million-ton target.
“Once those volumes were added, the government had in fact surpassed its 5 million ton goal,” a supply ministry spokesperson said.
The statement marks a change in how Egypt reports its wheat purchases. In previous seasons, the ministry usually listed durum wheat purchases separately from the main procurement target.
Egypt’s higher procurement comes as wheat production across North Africa improves. The Food and Agriculture Organization expects the region to produce 20 million tons of wheat in the 2025 to 2026 season, up 15% from 17.4 million tons in the previous season.
Egypt is expected to harvest 10.2 million tons, a 7% increase. The country also recorded its first wheat harvest above 10 million tons, supported by wider use of improved seeds and farming methods.
Farmers planted about 1.58 million hectares of wheat, while practices such as laser land levelling and subsoil work now cover about 75% of wheat fields.
The government also raised its guaranteed purchase price to about US$51 per 150-kilogram unit, from roughly US$43 to US$45 in the previous season. Despite stronger production, North Africa still imports almost 25 million tons of wheat each year to meet demand.
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