Egypt’s wheat imports surge by 40% to 14M tons in 2024

EGYPT – In 2024, Egypt’s wheat imports rose by 40% year-on-year, reaching 14 million tons, up from approximately 10 million tons in 2023, according to government sources reported by Al Arabiya Business.

This significant increase is largely attributed to higher private-sector purchases, aligning with the government’s strategy to bolster the nation’s wheat reserves in response to rising domestic consumption.

Egypt’s annual wheat consumption stands at about 20.6 million tons, with domestic production covering approximately 9 million tons, as per official data.

The remaining 11.6 million tons are typically imported to meet the deficit. The recent surge in imports suggests a strategic move to enhance the country’s wheat stockpile, ensuring food security amid global market fluctuations.

In August 2024, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi ordered an unprecedented wheat purchase of 3.8 million metric tons, nearly 20 times larger than usual, due to concerns over potential supply crises stemming from geopolitical tensions in major wheat-exporting countries like Russia and Ukraine.

However, the country managed to secure only 7% of the target volume, as sellers demanded high prices with extended payment terms.

To address these challenges, Egypt is planning to reduce wheat imports by incorporating corn or sorghum into its subsidized bread program, aiming to save millions of dollars.

The new plan, set to start in April 2025, involves mixing corn flour with wheat flour at a 1:4 ratio, potentially saving around one million metric tons of wheat. This initiative is part of broader efforts to manage the financial burden of the bread subsidy program, which has been a significant strain on the national budget.

Further, in December 2024, the Egyptian government transferred the responsibility of wheat procurement to the newly established military agency, Mostakbal Misr for Sustainable Development of the Air Force, replacing the General Authority for Supply Commodities (GASC), which had managed acquisitions for decades.

This move aims to optimize procurement processes through direct purchase agreements and international tenders.

In December 27, Egyptian grain state-buyer, Mostakbal Misr for Sustainable Development, has successfully secured its wheat requirements through the end of June 2025, with total contracts reaching 1.267 million metric tons, sources with direct knowledge told Reuters.

Most of the wheat is Russian, according to the sources.

“This strategic move eliminates the need for additional wheat purchases in the coming period, particularly as Egypt’s domestic wheat harvest season is scheduled to begin in the second half of April,” the sources said.

However, global traders have expressed skepticism about the new agency’s capacity to fulfill large purchase commitments, given its limited experience in such operations.

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