Egypt's Wheat Imports Fall by 700,000 Tonnes as Local Output Rises

Egypt's wheat imports declined by 700,000 tonnes this year to around 12.5 million tonnes, down from 13.2 million tonnes in 2025, as higher domestic production helped narrow the gap between supply and demand.

Minister of Agriculture Alaa Farouk said local wheat output exceeded 10 million tonnes, marking a 6.5% increase compared to the previous year. He added that wheat procurement through the government's supply system has reached record levels and is approaching the season's target of 5 million tonnes.

According to the minister, wheat cultivation expanded to 3.76 million acres this season, an increase of as much as 600,000 acres over the previous campaign. Efforts to boost production have included the wider use of contract farming, which guarantees prices before planting and links farmers directly with factories and companies while providing certified seeds and technical support.

Average productivity reached between 18 and 20 ardabs per acre, Farouk said, with farms using advanced agricultural technologies and recommended practices achieving yields of up to 28 ardabs per acre. One ardab of wheat is equivalent to 150 kilograms.

A procurement price of EGP 2,500 per ardab was set to encourage farmers to increase output, according to the minister.

Farouk also highlighted the role of research programmes carried out by the Agricultural Research Center, which has developed around 60 new varieties and hybrids over the past three years. These include high-yielding and climate-resilient strains across strategic crops such as wheat, corn, rice, oil crops and fodder.