Egypt wheat imports fall 8% in 2025 as prices rise and local supply expands
The Egyptian government received about 4 million tons of local wheat in the 2025 season, an increase of about 18% over the previous year.
EGYPT – Egypt’s wheat imports declined by about 8% in 2025 to 13.2 million tons, reflecting higher global prices, softer domestic demand for subsidised bread, and a steady increase in locally produced wheat, according to an official document obtained by Asharq.
The reduction comes as global wheat prices rose by around 6% to about US$250 per ton in 2025. Importers and market participants say the higher price environment has coincided with structural shifts in Egypt’s domestic market.
Hisham Suleiman, director of Mediterranean Star Trading and Grain Import Company in Egypt, told Al-Sharq that imports have been affected by the decline in local demand for ‘fino’ bread due to the decline in citizens’ purchasing power, alongside the return of large numbers of Syrian and Sudanese refugees to their home countries.
Wheat imports are expected to continue declining into 2026. The outlook reflects government policy aimed at reducing reliance on foreign wheat by expanding domestic production and procurement.
Government wheat purchases fell more sharply than total imports. During 2025, the Egyptian government reduced its wheat imports by 15% to about 4.5 million tons.
The government spokesperson attributed the drop mainly to higher local wheat availability. Official data show that the government received around 4 million tons of locally produced wheat during the 2025 season, an increase of about 18% from the previous year.
Looking ahead, authorities aim to further raise domestic procurement.
Supply Minister Sherif Farouk has said Egypt plans to receive between 4.5 million and 5 million tons of local wheat in the next season. The wheat planting season in Egypt runs from mid-November through the end of January, with harvesting typically taking place from mid-April to mid-July.
Despite the recent decline in imports, Egypt remains one of the world’s largest wheat buyers, and its purchasing patterns are closely watched by global grain markets.
According to a report issued by the US Department of Agriculture last October, Egypt ranked among the top wheat consumers in the 2023–2024 season, consuming more than 20 million tons, or about 2.6% of global wheat consumption.
The government is seeking to underpin supply through expanded acreage and higher yields. Agriculture Minister Alaa Farouk noted that the area planted with wheat during the current season is expected to increase by 13% to about 3.5 million acres.
“The role of scientific research in creating new varieties has contributed to a periodic and continuous increase in productivity,” he said, adding that increasing productivity on existing land by 10% is equivalent to cultivating one million additional acres.
Farouk also said Egypt met tourist demand for wheat products over the past year while achieving its target of reducing imports, citing the contribution of the Egypt’s Future Authority in bringing new wheat-growing areas into production.
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