Egypt's Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade has continued to emphasize the importance of diversifying the country's wheat imports, but data shows that Russia and Ukraine remain the primary sources. In the first eight months of 2026, Egypt imported around 8.23 million tons of wheat from ten countries, with Russia and Ukraine accounting for 82.4% of the total. Russia alone supplied 58.69% of the wheat, equivalent to 4.83 million tons, while Ukraine provided 23.68%, or 1.95 million tons.
The Egyptian government has been working to reduce its reliance on Russian and Ukrainian wheat, with Minister of Supply and Internal Trade, Shreef Farouk, stating that the ministry is focusing on diversifying import sources, particularly from France, Romania, and Bulgaria. However, data indicates that these countries have not been able to significantly increase their wheat exports to Egypt. In the first eight months of 2026, Romania was the third-largest supplier of wheat to Egypt, accounting for 7.55% of the total, followed by France with 3.62%, and Bulgaria with 3%.
According to a source in the wheat import sector, diversifying wheat imports is not a straightforward process, and Russia and Ukraine remain the most competitive suppliers due to their proximity to Egypt and lower shipping costs. The source noted that shipping costs from the Black Sea to Egypt are typically around $20 per ton, compared to over $50 per ton from countries like Australia and the United States.
Despite the challenges, Minister Farouk has reiterated the government's commitment to diversifying wheat imports, citing the need to enhance food security. The minister has mentioned that the government is working with 22 countries to source wheat, down from a reliance on just two or three countries in the past. However, data shows that wheat imports from France and other European countries have been limited in recent months.
In recent weeks, Egypt's private sector has continued to import wheat, primarily from Russian and Ukrainian sources, despite ongoing tensions in the Black Sea region. According to sources, the private sector has received 13 shipments of wheat in the first 17 days of September, totaling around 151.8 thousand tons, with eight shipments coming from Ukraine and three from Russia.
Looking ahead, sources indicate that wheat imports are expected to slow down due to high global prices and uncertainty in the Black Sea region. The Egyptian government is reportedly monitoring global prices and considering purchasing additional wheat stocks when prices drop, in order to build up a strategic reserve.
Egypt's annual wheat consumption is estimated to be between 18 and 19 million tons, with the government expecting to reduce its wheat needs by 20-30% through a restructuring of the bread subsidy system and a shift to cash support. The government has also received around five million tons of wheat from local farmers this year.
Key points
- Russia and Ukraine account for 82% of Egypt's wheat imports.
- Egypt's government is working to diversify wheat imports, but faces challenges in finding alternative sources.
- The country's wheat imports are expected to slow down due to high global prices and uncertainty in the Black Sea region.
