Latest news with #SupplyMinistry
Asharq Al-Awsat
26-05-2025
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Egypt Aims to Boost Local Wheat Procurement to Cut Imports, Says Minister
Egypt could significantly reduce its wheat imports this year as domestic procurement is expected to reach up to 5 million metric tons, compared to 3.5 million tonnes last year, Supply Minister Sherif Farouk told reporters on Monday. "Increasing wheat procurement is a welcome development. We could exceed 4 million tons, even reach 5," Farouk said. The figure is consistent with previously announced target of buying between 4 and 5 million tons from local farmers this season, compared to 3.4 million in 2024. While calling the rise in procurement promising, Farouk said it was "still not satisfying for us", and predicted further improvements in the coming years. Egypt, one of the world's largest wheat importers, consumes 9.5 million tons annually through the supply ministry to support subsidised bread. Wheat forms the backbone of the subsidised bread program, a lifeline for over 69 million citizens. Official data seen by Reuters shows Egypt bought around 3.5 million tons of wheat as of Monday since the beginning of the local harvest in mid April, which is set to continue through mid August, against 3 million tons in the same period last year. Greater self-sufficiency, he added, also allows Egypt to time international purchases strategically. "We're not forced to buy during peak periods in exporting countries. We can choose the right time and price." Farouk also noted ongoing negotiations with Bulgaria, Egypt's fourth-largest wheat supplier, to expand cooperation, whether through direct deals with the military-linked state agriculture commodities importer, Mostakbal Misr, or through a barter system, although negotiations are still ongoing. On wheat reserve levels, he dismissed concerns, saying: "Any increase or decrease in reserves is part of our strategy to secure the best prices it's about storage capacity and economic logic." He also said that Egypt's strategic reserves of wheat are sufficient for 6 months, while reserves of vegetable oils are sufficient for 4 months, and sugar for 12 months.
Zawya
26-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Egypt aims to boost local wheat procurement to cut imports, says minister
Egypt could significantly reduce its wheat imports this year as domestic procurement is expected to reach up to 5 million metric tons, compared to 3.5 million tonnes last year, Supply Minister Sherif Farouk told reporters on Monday. "Increasing wheat procurement is a welcome development. We could exceed 4 million tons, even reach 5," Farouk said. The figure is consistent with previously announced target of buying between 4 and 5 million tons from local farmers this season, compared to 3.4 million in 2024. While calling the rise in procurement promising, Farouk said it was "still not satisfying for us", and predicted further improvements in the coming years. Egypt, one of the world's largest wheat importers, consumes 9.5 million tons annually through the supply ministry to support subsidised bread. Wheat forms the backbone of the subsidised bread programme, a lifeline for over 69 million citizens. Official data seen by Reuters shows Egypt bought around 3.5 million tons of wheat as of Monday since the beginning of the local harvest in mid April, which is set to continue through mid August, against 3 million tons in the same period last year. Greater self-sufficiency, he added, also allows Egypt to time international purchases strategically. "We're not forced to buy during peak periods in exporting countries. We can choose the right time and price." Farouk also noted ongoing negotiations with Bulgaria, Egypt's fourth-largest wheat supplier, to expand cooperation, whether through direct deals with the military-linked state agriculture commodities importer, Mostakbal Misr, or through a barter system, although negotiations are still ongoing. On wheat reserve levels, he dismissed concerns, saying: "Any increase or decrease in reserves is part of our strategy to secure the best prices it's about storage capacity and economic logic." He also said that Egypt's strategic reserves of wheat are sufficient for 6 months, while reserves of vegetable oils are sufficient for 4 months, and sugar for 12 months. (Reporting by Nayera Abdallah and Mohamed Ezz; Writing by Tala Ramadan; Editing by Kirsten Donovan and David Evans)
Mada
17-03-2025
- Business
- Mada
Ration card holders still waiting for Ramadan grant
Halfway through Ramadan, ration card holders across Egypt are still waiting for the exceptional grant announced by Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchouk in February. The grant — set at LE125 per card for households with one child and LE250 for those with two children — was meant to be distributed for two months starting in Ramadan, benefiting around 10 million families nationwide. But so far there is no sign of the funds. Two sources in the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce's General Grocery Divisions in Cairo and Luxor confirmed that the grant is yet to be released, telling Mada Masr they have not received any instructions on its disbursement. Earlier this month, MP Samira al-Gazzar asked Prime Minister Mostafa Madbuly and Supply Minister Sherif Farouk to explain the delay in the grant's disbursal, after receiving numerous complaints from her constituents. 'First, how can the prime minister announce increases without implementing them?' she asked. 'Second, failing to act on his statement is both an insult to his authority and a disregard for the public. Third, why didn't the government secure the necessary funds before making the announcement? And fourth, who will compensate these vulnerable families for the disappointment and embarrassment caused by the absence of the promised increase?' the MP concluded. The Supply Ministry previously denied responsibility for the grant's delay, telling Mada Masr that it was not the issuing authority. Meanwhile, Finance Ministry spokesperson Ibtisam Saad only said: 'The ministry has nothing to announce at this time.' The head of the Grocery Division in Giza told Mada Masr earlier this month that a ministry official had said they were working on adjusting the distribution system to facilitate the grant's payment 'without causing issues.' 'People accuse us [retailers] of stealing the funds,' the source added. 'The Finance Ministry should have coordinated with the Supply Ministry before announcing the grant to avoid fueling public frustration.'
Mada
11-03-2025
- Health
- Mada
Egypt launches program to fortify subsidized bread against iron deficiency
The government launched on Monday a national program against iron deficiency that will fortify subsidized bread in a program led by the Supply Ministry in collaboration with the Health Ministry and with support from the World Food Program (WFP). Food insecurity and malnutrition are on the rise in Egypt, according to a United Nations report released last year which noted that 28.3 percent of women aged 15 to 49 suffer from anemia nationwide. The new program aims to address health issues linked to nutrient deficiencies, particularly iron, according to a statement from the Supply Ministry. A source in the Supply Ministry told Mada Masr that the fortified bread — enhanced with iron and folic acid — will be distributed in 13 governorates with the highest anemia rates, as identified by a Health Ministry survey. Hussein al-Boudi, head of the Mills Division, told Mada Masr that the Supply Ministry began distributing iron and folic acid rations to supply mills last August, along with specialized equipment to mix vitamins with flour. Each ton of flour is set to incorporate 200 grams of iron, but mills have yet to receive official instructions to begin adding it to subsidized bread flour. Bread and oil are the most widely consumed commodities in Egypt, former Supply Ministry advisor Nomani Nasr told Mada Masr, making them key targets for such interventions. The WFP previously supported a similar bread fortification initiative in Egypt from 2008 to 2014 and ran another program between 2010 and 2016 to enrich subsidized oil with vitamins D and A, aimed at improving iron absorption. Around two thirds of Egypt's population — or nearly 70 million people — are eligible for the bread subsidy program, which guarantees qualified households the price of a daily quota of staple loaves at around LE0.20 each. The cost-per-loaf was hiked by 300 percent last year, as the government pares back expenditure on subsidies in line with structural adjustments recommended by the International Monetary Fund.
