October 11, 2011

Egypt raises imported wheat protein content requirements

Protein content requirements of wheat imports have been raised by Egypt, the world's biggest wheat importer, according to traders on Monday (Oct 10).

The new rules, set by Egypt's state-owned wheat buyer, raised the level of minimum protein content requirement for Kazakh wheat to 12.5%, media outlets reported.

The General Authority for Supply Commodities (GASC) also increased the protein content requirement for Russian wheat to 12% and 11.5% from other suppliers.

The new standards outlined in the GASC statement, dated September 24, were to have immediate effect.

In early September, Kazakhstan made its first-ever wheat sale to Egypt. Egypt purchased 132,277 tonnes of top-class Kazakh grain at US$320.10 a tonne in that deal, according to the media.

The Russian Grain Union took the new requirements in stride.

Citing a good crop with high yields of protein content, a senior official of the group expressed confidence the industry could easily meet the new expectations.

"I do not think the new requirements will create big problems for Russia," Alexander Korbut, vice president of the lobby group, said.

Egypt has to import around half of the 15.4 million tonnes of wheat it needs each year to make up for the shortfall in local production, according to the media.