Egypt

Importing high-moisture level French wheat

31st July 2015

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Wheat is seen in Toukh, El-Kalubia governorate, about 25 km (16 miles) northeast of Cairo, April 12, 2013. The Islamist-led government says higher incentive prices for farmers and revolutionary new harvesting techniques will boost wheat production. But farmers in Minya, Egypt, say Cairo cannot expect an increased crop when they lack enough water for irrigation, fuel for agricultural machines, fertiliser and enrichment seeds. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh (EGYPT - Tags: AGRICULTURE BUSINESS POLITICS)

Egypt’s General Authority for Supply Commodities (GASC) is considering extending the exception for importing high-moisture level French wheat beyond August, state agency MENA said on Sunday.

GASC procures strategic commodities for the Egyptian state, the world’s largest importer of wheat.

Higher moisture means less flour can be extracted from the wheat.

GASC has allowed the import of French wheat with up to 13.5 per cent moisture, so long as French traders pay a fine. This exception was due to expire at the end of August.

Mamdouh Abdel-Fattah, the vice president of GASC told MENA that the purpose of potential extension is to diversify sources of wheat.

Since the beginning of this fiscal year, which started in July, Egypt has bought 120,000 tonnes of wheat from Russia, 60,000 tonnes from Ukraine 60,000 tonnes from Romania.

In the first three quarters of the previous fiscal year, Egyptian imports of wheat were worth $1.63 billion, according to the most recently available figures by Egypt’s central bank.