Egypt has significantly reduced its wheat imports from Ukraine and Russia over the first ten months of 2026, shifting its focus to alternative suppliers. Ukrainian wheat imports dropped by 17.7% to 2.73 million tons, while Russian shipments fell from 6.1 million tons to 5.72 million tons. Despite these declines, Russia remained Egypt’s largest supplier, accounting for 56.2% of total wheat imports.
The country has increased purchases from other nations, with Romanian wheat imports rising by 48.8% to 742.9 thousand tons. Bulgaria and Canada also saw increases of 19.7% and 39%, respectively, while Lithuania and Latvia emerged as new suppliers. The shift in sourcing is attributed to rising global wheat prices, a stronger dollar, and logistical disruptions in the Black Sea region.
Global wheat prices surged from $270 per tonne in mid-2026 to $320 per tonne, though they have since eased to $305 per tonne. This price volatility has contributed to higher flour prices in Egypt, which have risen by approximately 3,000 Egyptian pounds ($55) per tonne since early August. According to Egypt’s Ministry of Agriculture, the country imported around 12.5 million tons of wheat in the 2025/26 financial year, covering about 62% of domestic consumption.
The total annual wheat requirement for Egypt stands at 20.3 million tons. Hisham Suleiman, director of Mediterranean Star for Trading and Grain Imports, highlighted the challenges posed by supply disruptions and price fluctuations, which have impacted both importers and consumers.