May 11, 2007

Egypt to raise Kazakh wheat imports to 2 million tonnes by 2008

Egypt agreed to raise its wheat imports from Kazakhstan to 2 million tonnes by 2008, up from the 1.2 million tonnes imported this year, Al Alam Al Youm newspaper reported Thursday (May 10).

The agreement took place on the final day of Minister of Trade and Industry Rachid Mohamed Rachid's visit to Kazakhstan, the paper said.

The two sides also agreed to build a wheat silo in the Egyptian port city of Alexandria with a capacity of 100,000 tonnes to be operational in a year and a half, the paper said.

Trade Ministry officials were not immediately available for comment.

Egypt struck a deal with Kazakhstan in November to import US$250 million worth of wheat. The country has received wheat shipments worth US$38 million since January.