Egypt winds down wheat collection as purchases fall short of target, documents show

Egypt has begun shutting down some local wheat collection centres ahead of schedule, signalling that the harvest is nearing its end with purchases falling short of the government’s target, according to a supply ministry document seen by Reuters. The shortfall comes as Egypt, often the world’s largest wheat importer, seeks to secure affordable supplies for a vast subsidised bread programme that feeds nearly 70 million people, amid high inflation and ongoing economic strains. The government had aimed to procure between 4 and 5 million metric tons of wheat from a local harvest it estimated at around 10 million tons. The season, which started mid-April, officially runs through mid-August. However, as of Saturday, June 28, just over 3.9 million tons had been collected, according to a second, separate official document reviewed by Reuters. In recent days, the supply ministry has started gradually closing some collection points across the country, citing low volumes being delivered by ...