Egypt buys first Ukrainian wheat shipment since Russian war began

Egypt buys first Ukrainian wheat shipment since Russian war began

CAIRO — Egypt's state grains buyer is believed to have bought 175,000 tons of Ukrainian wheat through private talks with suppliers. Trading sources told media outlets Nov. 25 that the new wheat shipments include the General Authority for Supply Commodities' first purchases since the outbreak of Russia's war on Ukraine in February. 

A source from the Egyptian Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade, who declined to be named, told Al-Monitor, “The ministry aims to import about 1 million tons of wheat by mid-2023, to increase its strategic wheat reserve and meet the needs of local bakeries and the private sector.”

Ibrahim Ashmawy, deputy minister of internal trade and supply, told the local TeN TV channel Nov. 28 that Egypt’s strategic wheat reserve is sufficient for the next five months.

“Egypt is the largest wheat importer in the world. Domestic consumption amounts to nearly 25 million tons annually, while the country produces about 12 million tons,” Ashmawy said, adding that the rest is imported.

Rashad Abdo, head of the Egyptian Forum for Economic and Strategic Studies, told Al-Monitor that the contracts signed by Egypt for the purchase of Ukrainian wheat are a “good step.” 

He said that Egypt was able to secure these contracts “thanks to the Russian-Ukrainian