The import volumes were 11% higher than the earlier official projections. The USDA attributed the surge in wheat import volumes to " increased demand by the private industry and investment in silos to store more wheat. " The share of private sector wheat imports was estimated at 51.6% in 2023-24 while the GASC purchased the remaining 48.4%. At least 61% of Egypt's imported wheat in the 202324 marketing year came from Russia, with 24% coming from Ukraine and the rest from Romania. Egypt also is addressing the problem of post-harvest losses in the wheat industry. If the problem is addressed, analysts said it would yield an adequate wheat supply for at least 21.2 million people, assuming average wheat consumption of 145 kilograms per capita. It is projected that Egypt could reduce its dependency on wheat imports by 37% and save an estimated $1.1 billion by reducing the post-harvest losses. Another initiative to bolster Egypt's wheat industry and tackle post-harvest losses is investing in modern wheat storage facilities with capacity of up to 5.2 million tonnes. According to the AfDB, Egypt has made progress Egypt relies on wheat imports to address a more than 10-milliontonne deficit annually, which made it the world's biggest wheat importer in 2021. by " increasing public and private investments by establishing new central and subsidiary silos at newly reclaimed lands to increase storage capacity to buffer against international wheat price shocks. " With a surge in its national population and increasing uncertainty in the stability of the international wheat supply chain due to growing global political conflicts, Egypt's drive to be self-sufficient in wheat could not have come at a better time. Shem Oirere is a Nairobi, Kenya-based freelance journalist who specializes in covering the African grain markets. He may be reached at soirere@gmail.com. We want to hear from you - Send comments and inquiries to worldgrain@sosland.com. For reprints of WG articles, email reprints@sosland.com. GEAR DRIVEN Pellet Press abms.com.tr World-Grain.com / World Grain / November 2024 55http://abms.com.tr https://www.abms.com.tr/