Egypt Daily News – The Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade has set the start date for local wheat procurement for the General Authority for Supply Commodities (GASC) from April 15, 2025, to August 15, 2025, according to an official document obtained by Al-Shorouk. The document aims to regulate the handling and trade of local wheat.
According to Ministerial Decree No. 45 of 2025, wheat procurement prices for the current season remain fixed at 2,200 EGP per ardeb for wheat with a cleanliness grade of 23.5 carats, 2,150 EGP for 23 carats, and 2,100 EGP for 22.5 carats, provided the wheat is free from pest infestation and impurities such as sand and gravel.
The government has increased local wheat prices multiple times over recent seasons. During the 2022-2023 season, the price rose three times—from 1,000 to 1,250 and then to 1,500 EGP per ardeb. In the 2023-2024 season, it was raised twice, first to 1,600 EGP and then to 2,000 EGP per ardeb. This season, the price has been increased once to 2,200 EGP per ardeb.
Hisham Suleiman, Director of Mediterranean Star for Trade and Grain Imports, stated that the government has decided to maintain last year’s benchmark prices set by the Cabinet without any increases ahead of the procurement period, contrary to previous practices. This decision was made due to the stability of global wheat prices, with local prices now exceeding global rates.
Suleiman explained that current global wheat prices stand at $255 per ton for Ukrainian wheat and $260 per ton for Russian wheat with 11.5% protein content, compared to $444 per ton for the same quality last year.
On October 2, 2024, the Cabinet approved a proposal by the Minister of Agriculture, in coordination with the Ministries of Finance and Supply, to set a benchmark price of 2,200 EGP per ardeb for the 2024/2025 wheat season.
Suleiman highlighted that the Ministry of Supply typically raises local wheat prices at the end of March each year, particularly at the beginning of the procurement season, to encourage farmers to supply wheat to the government. However, the current local wheat price per ton is 14,200 EGP, compared to 13,000 EGP per ton globally.
Wheat cultivation in Egypt begins in mid-November and continues until the end of January, with the harvest season running from mid-April to mid-June.
Last season, Egypt cultivated up to 3.3 million acres of wheat, an increase of 750,000 acres from the previous season.
