Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Egypt is continuing its aggressive wheat import drive, securing significant new volumes from the Black Sea region as part of efforts to bolster strategic grain reserves ahead of winter demand.
According to a source familiar with the matter, the Future Egypt Authority, the recently established body responsible for the country’s wheat purchases has booked around 500,000 tons of grain for delivery in December and January. The shipments will include 200,000 tons from Russia, 150,000 tons from Bulgaria, and more than 130,000 tons from Ukraine.
The source, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the transactions, added that the authority is also in negotiations to secure an additional 500,000 tons from various suppliers, with agreements expected to be finalized by early December.
Egypt remains the world’s largest wheat importer, and its buying activity is closely watched by global grain markets as a key indicator of demand trends and exporter competitiveness. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) projects Egypt’s wheat imports for the current season at around 13 million tons, a record level reflecting both population growth and strong domestic consumption.
Bloomberg reported last month that Egypt had already purchased about one million tons of wheat in recent tenders, sourcing from Black Sea exporters as well as France and Kazakhstan. Those shipments are expected to begin arriving in early December.
The Future Egypt Authority took over the role of managing government wheat imports late last year, succeeding the long-established General Authority for Supply Commodities (GASC). The move was part of a broader government effort to streamline procurement processes, diversify supply sources, and secure more competitive pricing amid volatile global grain markets.
According to the informed source, Egypt’s current wheat reserves are sufficient to meet domestic consumption through the end of February 2026, ensuring stability in the subsidized bread supply — a cornerstone of the country’s food security program.
Analysts note that Egypt’s continued engagement with Black Sea suppliers underscores both the region’s pricing advantage and Cairo’s strategy to maintain flexible, multi-origin sourcing to safeguard against global supply disruptions. With the government targeting steady stock levels amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainties, Egypt’s wheat import drive is expected to remain robust well into the new year.
