Egypt Slashes Wheat Imports: How the World’s Largest Buyer Cut 1 Million Tons in 2025

Egypt successfully reduced its wheat imports by 8% in 2025, bringing the total down to 13.2 million tons. This shift is driven by a dual strategy: boosting domestic production and restructuring sovereign procurement mechanisms, alongside economic and demographic shifts that influenced national consumption.

​Key Indicators: The Drop in Government Imports​                                                                                2025 marked a significant turning point for state purchases. Government wheat imports fell by 15% to 4.5 million tons. This decline is primarily attributed to:

• ​Domestic Supply Surge: The government procured 4 million tons from Egyptian farmers—an 18% increase over the previous year.
• ​Ambitious Targets: Supply Minister Sherif Farouk aims to raise local procurement to between 4.5 and 5 million tons in the upcoming season.
• ​The Production Map: Research and Reclamation
  ​Egypt is on track to expand its wheat-cultivated area by 13%, reaching 3.5 million acres this season. According to Agriculture Minister Alaa Farouk, the strategy relies on more than just land:
• ​Agricultural Innovation: Developing new high-yield varieties has increased productivity by 10%, which technically equals the output of adding one million new acres.
• ​National Projects: The growing role of  Agency in reclaiming new lands and driving gradual self-sufficiency.                                                                                                                                     ​Drivers of Declining Demand

​Beyond production, several external and local factors contributed to the import reduction, according to market experts:

• Rising Costs: Global prices rose by approximately 6%, reaching $250 per ton.
  ​Purchasing Power: Local demand for “Fino” (premium) bread declined due to economic pressures on consumers.
• ​Demographic Shifts: The return of large numbers of Syrian and Sudanese refugees to their home countries eased the pressure on the national consumption system.
• ​Strategic Shift: In December 2024, Egypt made a structural move by transferring wheat procurement responsibilities from the General Authority for Supply Commodities (GASC).

​Future Outlook
​While Egypt remains among the world’s top wheat consumers (exceeding 20 million tons annually), forecasts suggest a continued downward trend in imports through 2026. This is supported by ongoing land expansion and the use of scientific solutions to maximize local crop quality.