Egypt’s India wheat deal agreed but not signed yet – minister

Egypt’s supply minister said on Tuesday a deal with India to directly purchase 500,000 tonnes of wheat outside the usual tender system had been agreed but not signed yet.

Egypt’s deal reached with India to directly buy 500,000 tons of wheat outside the usual tender system had been agreed but not signed yet, Supply Minister Aly Moselhy said on Tuesday.

India’s government confirmed on Tuesday that it would still allow shipments awaiting customs clearance and exports to Egypt.

Around 300,000 tonnes of wheat bought by Egypt stranded in Ukraine.

“We have agreed but we haven’t made the contract,” Moselhy told reporters in Cairo on Tuesday.

He reiterated an earlier statement that deals between governments would not be affected by the recent export ban.

Egypt is currently focused on purchasing wheat from the local harvest, which runs until July or August, rather than imports, Moselhy said.

Egypt’s wheat imports, usually secured through tenders, have been thrown into doubt by the Russian war in Ukraine in late February due to heavy dependence on Black Sea wheat.