Glacier FarmMedia — As Egyptian wheat imports in 2026/27 are expected to remain relatively steady from the previous marketing year, the country’s wheat production is projected to bump up, the United States Department of Agriculture attaché in Cairo reported on March 12.
WHY IT MATTERS: Egypt is a major wheat importer and its purchases affect world prices
Egypt is one of the world’s largest importers of the cereal, relying heavily on those from Russia, Ukraine and the European Union. The USDA attaché forecast Egyptian wheat imports for 2026/27 at 12.50 million tonnes, down 200,000 from the year before. That’s due to the Cairo desk having projected Egypt’s wheat output increasing by 600,000 tonnes at 9.80 million.
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The attaché said harvested wheat area expanded by 170,000 hectares at 1.50 million in 2026/27 because of higher domestic prices. However, for that crop year, projected Egyptian wheat yields were to fall to 6.53 tonnes per hectare from 6.92.
There’s to be a jump in Egypt’s total supply in 2026/27, at 26.07 million tonnes versus 24.77 million in 2025/26.
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Although a major importer of wheat, Egypt is also an important exporter of wheat flour, especially to several African and Middle East countries. Exports in 2026/27 are expected to improve by 200,000 tonnes at 1.20 million tonnes.
The country’s wheat ending stocks are forecast to increase to 4.57 million tonnes from 3.77 million in 2025/26.
As for other crops, the Cairo desk said Egypt is expected to grow more corn with production bumping up to seven million tonnes in 2026/27, with imports also edging up to 10.50 million. There’s to be a small uptick in ending stocks at 1.79 million tonnes.
The attaché projected Egyptian milled and rough rice production to remain at 4.20 million and 6.09 million tonnes, respectively in 2026/27. The rice carryover is set to increase to 671,000 tonnes from 491,000 in 2025/26.
