Egypt’s Ministry of Trade and Industry lifted this week its ban on the export of several staple food commodities, including wheat, flour and fava beans for six months since March.
According to the decision, which has been published in Egyptian media, Egyptian exporters can once again export fava beans, flour, wheat, lentils, oils and pasta without any restrictions.
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the resulting global supply crisis, Egypt issued a decision in March to ban the export of several food items, including wheat.
The ban was extended for another three months in June.
Egypt, which used to rely on Russia and Ukraine for 80 percent of its imported wheat, has been working on diversifying its wheat import sources and encouraging local farmers to sell their wheat to the state since the Ukraine crisis started in February.
Egypt has already increased its local supplies, buying from local farmers at EGP 880 per ardeb (150kg) on average, which will be upped to EGP 1,000 in the new season.
The government aims to purchase 6 million tonnes this year.
According to official statements, the country consumes around 18 million tonnes of wheat annually.
