Ahmed ElSebaie: Russia Supplies 59% of Egypt’s Wheat Imports
ElSebaie: Corn Imports Surge Driven by Growth in Poultry, Feed, Starch, and Glucose Industries
ElSebaie: Registering Russian Companies on the Unified Procurement Platform Enhances Import Governance
The Egyptian Swiss Group for Pasta, Milling, and Concentrates participated in the World Grain and Pulses Forum 2026 (WGPF 2026), held on January 26–27, which brought together agriculture ministers, senior government officials, leading global grain trading companies, representatives of international organizations, and agricultural market experts
The Group’s participation underscores its commitment to active engagement in global dialogue platforms addressing grain markets and food security, as well as its role as a strategic player within Egypt’s food industries ecosystem—particularly amid ongoing structural changes in global trade flows of wheat, corn, and soybeans
Eng. Ahmed ElSebaie, General Manager of the Egyptian Swiss Group for Pasta, Milling, and Concentrates, stated that the forum represents one of the most influential international platforms dedicated to shaping the future of grain and pulses markets. He noted that the event was organized under the auspices of the Russian Ministry of Agriculture and convened major Russian grain producers and exporters alongside key international buyers, with Egypt at the forefront
ElSebaie emphasized that Egypt’s strong presence at such forums reflects its strategic weight in the global grain market, as one of the world’s largest wheat importers. He stressed that maintaining stable, long-term strategic relations with Russia remains a top priority, given its pivotal role as Egypt’s largest wheat supplier
During his address at the conference, ElSebaie highlighted that wheat remains the most critical commodity within Egypt’s food security framework. He noted that Russia accounted for approximately 59% of Egypt’s wheat imports in 2025, underscoring the importance of sustained coordination with Russian partners to ensure supply stability and price balance amid geopolitical uncertainties and volatility across global supply chains
He further pointed to the recent meeting between the Head of Egypt’s Mostakbal Misr Agency, Lt. Gen. Bahaa El-Ghannam, and Russia’s Minister of Agriculture, along with leading Russian grain exporters, which explored the registration of Russian companies on Egypt’s unified procurement platform for strategic commodities. ElSebaie described this step as a positive move toward better import governance, enhanced transparency, and improved market efficiency
ElSebaie explained that his participation in the forum sessions and the presentation he delivered focused on analyzing developments in Egypt’s grain market throughout 2025. Wheat imports declined to approximately 13.1 million tons, reflecting reduced government purchasing and increased domestic procurement. In contrast, corn and soybean imports recorded historic increases, driven by rapid expansion in the poultry and feed sectors, as well as growing investments in starch and glucose industries
He confirmed that corn imports reached a record level exceeding 11.5 million tons in 2025, accompanied by a noticeable shift in sourcing toward Brazil and Argentina. Meanwhile, soybean imports continued to hit all-time highs, supported by expanded oilseed crushing capacities and rising industrial demand
According to ElSebaie, these trends signal a structural transformation in both the composition and geographic distribution of Egypt’s grain imports, characterized by higher geographic concentration of supply sources. This evolution, he noted, necessitates stronger risk management frameworks, diversification of supply channels, and parallel efforts to support domestic production where feasible
ElSebaie added that the forum provided a valuable opportunity to exchange perspectives with policymakers and grain sector officials from several countries, including Russia and Türkiye, while discussing pricing dynamics, logistics solutions, and the growing role of technology in enhancing supply chain efficiency
He concluded by affirming that the Egyptian Swiss Group’s participation in the World Grain and Pulses Forum 2026 reflects its continued commitment to supporting Egypt’s food security agenda and strengthening its presence in influential international discussions—contributing to the consolidation of Egypt’s position as one of the world’s most important and impactful grain markets