Egypt has purchased a record volume of wheat from local farmers and is on track to meet its target of 5 million metric tons this season, as government reforms aimed at reducing reliance on imports begin to yield results.
Already, 4.6 million tons of wheat have been procured by the government, according to official figures for the marketing season, which runs from mid-April to mid-August. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly described the figure as an all-time high, noting that it has already surpassed last year’s full-season procurement level.
Egypt is one of the world’s largest wheat importers, typically bringing in around 10 million tons annually. About half of this is purchased by the government to support its bread subsidy programme, which serves an estimated 70 million citizens.
Officials say the push to increase domestic procurement is part of broader efforts to reduce import dependency, ease pressure on foreign currency reserves, and stabilise the national budget.
The reform programme began last year when the government raised the purchase price paid to farmers for wheat for the 2026 season by 7%. A further increase in March—just before the harvest—lifted the price to around $320 per ton, significantly above global market levels.
By comparison, LSEG data placed Black Sea wheat at around $234 to $240 per ton, highlighting the premium offered to local producers.
Farmers say the higher prices have strongly incentivised production. “The price was very attractive and encouraged a record planted area,” said Hussein Abu Saddam, a farmer in Minya province.
Grain traders also noted that the pricing policy played a decisive role in boosting supply. “In dollars, you’re buying (wheat) from the farmer at around $323 per ton. This doesn’t exist in the market at all,” said Egypt-based trader Hesham Soliman. “If you’re an importer and open a tender, the highest you would get is $260.”
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the wheat cultivation area increased to about 3.7 million feddans this season, up from 3.1 million last year, marking a record expansion. A feddan is slightly more than an acre.
Improved weather conditions and better seed varieties also contributed to higher yields, officials said.
Farmer Abu Saddam reported increased productivity on his land, noting yields of about 24 ardebs per feddan, equivalent to roughly 3.6 tons, compared to 22 ardebs the previous year. His family farms around 30 feddans and delivered significantly more wheat to government procurement channels this season.
Analysts say the combination of higher guaranteed prices, expanded planting, and improved yields has positioned Egypt closer to reducing its dependence on imported wheat, at least in the short term, while easing fiscal and foreign exchange pressures.
