June 1, 2007

Egypt to purchase wheat from Russia, Kazakhstan

Egypt, the world's largest importer of wheat, will limit its wheat imports from the US and will buy more wheat from Russia and Kazakhstan according to Egyptian Trade Minister, Rachid Mohamed Rachid.

The minister said the decision was made purely on commercial considerations.

Egypt imports 6 million tonnes of wheat annually from the US, France, Australia, Argentina, Syria, Kazakhstan and Russia, with the government as the major buyer.

Venus International, the biggest private seller of grain in Egypt, said on May 3 that it would buy 2 million tonnes of grain from Kazakhstan.