July 26, 2010

Egypt tops global wheat consumption

Agricultural Research Center study shows that Egyptians consume an annual total of 13.7 million tonnes of wheat, making them the world's largest wheat consumers.

The study listed the factors that tend to affect national wheat consumption, including average per capita incomes, population size and demographic considerations.

The study also found that Egypt uses 1.3 million tonnes of wheat per year-valued at some EGP390 million (US$68.36 million)-for animal fodder and that some 609,000 tonnes of wheat is wasted by households every year.

Wheat consumption had risen by 196% between 1981 and 2007, pointing out that 46% of the commodity was used to produce subsidised bread.