Egyptian imports of raw materials fell by 19.2 percent in January-May 2016 to 16.5 billion pounds (US$1.8 billion) from 20.5 billion pounds a year earlier. The monthly bulletin released by state's Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) showed that Egypt's bill of imported raw materials recorded 2.9 billion pounds opposed to 3.3 billion pounds in May 2015, marking a 12.6 percent decline. The report stated that Egypt's imports of soya beans dropped during the first five months of 2016 to 1.4 billion pounds from 2.8 billion pounds at the same period of 2015, marking a 49.7 percent drop. Additionally, soya beans imports edged down in May 2016 to 304.9 million pounds compared to 730.6 million pounds. Egypt's imports of iron ores and concentrates plummeted by 34.3 percent in January-May 2016 to 762.5 million pounds from 1.2 billion pounds a year earlier. In May 2016, the imports volume fell to 2.9 million pounds from 191.7 million in May 2015. Egypt's bill of imported wheat inched down by 21.4 percent during the first five months of 2016 to 6.6 billion pounds opposed to 8.4 billion at the same period of 2015. The report stated that Egypt's imports of wheat dropped in May 2016 from 969.2 million pounds to 857 million pounds.
