Egypt has begun shutting down local wheat collection centers ahead of schedule, signaling that the country’s 2025 wheat harvest season is nearing its end—with total local purchases falling short of government targets. This development comes as Africa’s most populous nation grapples with high inflation, a weakening currency, and the rising cost of global food imports.
According to a supply ministry document seen by Reuters, the government is now gradually closing some grain procurement points due to low delivery volumes from farmers. The closures indicate that the local harvest season, which began in mid-April and was originally set to run through mid-August, is winding down early.
The government had aimed to procure between 4 and 5 million metric tons of wheat from the local harvest, which officials had estimated would yield around 10 million tons. However, as of Saturday, June 28, just over 3.9 million tons had been collected, according to a second official document also reviewed by Reuters.
The Ministry of Supply noted that collection centres which fail to receive wheat for three to five consecutive days will be closed permanently for the season.
This procurement shortfall comes at a critical time for Egypt, which operates one of the largest food subsidy programmes in the world, supplying heavily subsidised bread to nearly 70 million citizens. Wheat is the cornerstone of this system, making procurement—both domestic and international—a matter of national security and political stability.
Egypt, traditionally one of the world’s largest wheat importers, typically supplements local harvests with around 5 million tons of imports annually to maintain its strategic reserves. However, officials revealed last week that import volumes in the first half of 2025 have also lagged behind those of the previous year, raising further concerns about supply adequacy.
Despite the domestic procurement gap and slower imports, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly sought to reassure the public earlier this month, stating that Egypt still holds strategic reserves of wheat and other essential commodities sufficient for more than six months.
“We have enough wheat reserves to last beyond half a year,” Madbouly said, in an attempt to calm fears over potential shortages.
Still, the early shutdown of collection centres and the gap between targeted and actual procurement figures may reflect deeper issues within the agriculture sector, including:
Pricing disputes between the government and farmers
Input cost inflation
Logistical bottlenecks
The broader impact of Egypt’s ongoing economic reforms
For Egyptian farmers, some of whom have expressed frustration over procurement prices and delayed payments, the early closure of collection points is yet another challenge in an already difficult season.
Meanwhile, international wheat markets are closely watching developments in Egypt, as shifts in procurement and import activity from such a major buyer can impact global grain prices.
As Egypt navigates these challenges, policymakers face a delicate balancing act—between supporting domestic production, ensuring food affordability, and maintaining economic stability in a turbulent global environment.
The outcome of this year’s wheat procurement drive may well shape not just food security policies, but also public sentiment, in the months leading up to the next harvest cycle.
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