Russian grain firm wants seized wheat shipment back

Russian grain firm Rosinteragroservis (RIAS) has demanded the return of a wheat shipment held in Egypt so it can be sold to Indonesian buyers.

Egypt seized on Sunday (Jun 7) 56,000 tonnes of Russian wheat from RIAS for quality checks and suspended all grain contracts with Egyptian Traders Co., which bought the wheat.

The shipment needs to go to Indonesia, the quality is flawless and the Indonesian buyers want the wheat, according to RIAS commercial director Chris Vanhonacker.

The seizure followed a decision by Egypt's state prosecutor ordering Egyptian Traders Co to re-export a 52,000 tonne shipment held at the Red Sea port of Safaga.

RIAS said it had not been paid for the seized shipment and that it still owns the wheat.

The company said a lack of clarity concerning problems Egypt has been having with wheat shipments was forcing them to take it business elsewhere.

No one from the Egyptian authorities and the main state wheat buyer GASC has contacted RIAS, said Vanhonacker.

Russian wheat imports have been under intense scrutiny in Egypt since mid-May, when dead bugs and impurities were found in Russian wheat imported by Egyptian Traders.