Egypt, France airdrop aid to Gaza amid growing humanitarian crisis, global criticism of Israel    Supply minister discusses strengthening cooperation with ITFC    Egypt launches initiative with traders, manufacturers to reduce prices of essential goods    SCZONE chief discusses strengthening maritime, logistics cooperation with Panama    Egypt strengthens healthcare partnerships to enhance maternity, multiple sclerosis, and stroke care    Egypt keeps Gaza aid flowing, total tops 533,000 tons: minister    Egypt reviews health insurance funding mechanism to ensure long-term sustainability    Gaza on verge of famine as war escalates, ceasefire talks stall    Gaza crisis, trade on agenda as Trump hosts Starmer in Scotland    Egyptian president follows up on initiatives to counter extremist thought    Indian Embassy to launch cultural festival in Assiut, film fest in Cairo    Egyptian aid convoy heads toward Gaza as humanitarian crisis deepens    Culture minister launches national plan to revive film industry, modernise cinematic assets    Egypt will keep pushing for Gaza peace, aid: PM    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Sisi calls for boosting oil & gas investment to ease import burden    EGX to close Thursday for July 23 Revolution holiday    Egypt welcomes 25-nation statement urging end to Gaza war    Sisi sends letter to Nigerian president affirming strategic ties    Egypt, Senegal sign pharma MoU to unify regulatory standards    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt, Somalia discuss closer environmental cooperation    58 days that exposed IMF's contradictions on Egypt    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Russian wheat price pressures others: GASC

CAIRO: Egypt's main wheat buyer said on Monday Russian prices were putting pressure on French and US suppliers and the world's biggest wheat importer was keen to seek out a wider range of origins for the grain.

Egypt's international tenders are keenly contested by major exporters such as France and the United States, while Russia has been the biggest single supplier this year. However, other producers, like Poland, have eyed the Egyptian market.
"The US suffers from competition against Russia ... The issue is not wheat quality because the US enjoys good wheat quality, as good as the Russian.
“The problem is prices and prices of landed costs," Nomani Nomani, vice chairman of Egypt's General Authority for Supply Commodities (GASC), told Reuters.
Egypt tightened terms in June for tenders, a move some European suppliers said would complicate procedures and add costs even though the changes were not major.
"We standardized tender terms to treat all providers equally ... That way, price is the only gauge in determining tender results," he said, adding the new terms would broadly stay in place for some time.
He and other Egyptian officials have not given details. But European traders said they included tighter phytosanitary requirements and demands for faster loading.
A 2009 requirement to load full cargoes at a single port has also stayed despite complaints from French suppliers who said only one French port had this capacity.
Diversity
"Egypt used to bear additional costs of another port for no reason," Nomani said.
"(Russia) was ready (to load) at one port ... same wheat, same timings, same specifications ... I save costs," he said, adding that Russia was "worrying for all other origins."
Russia supplied 60 percent of Egypt's 5.53 million tons of wheat purchases in the 12 months ending on June 30. France was the second biggest supplier at 27 percent, followed by the United States at 7 percent.
In a bid for diversity, GASC would consider adding Poland to its suppliers if it met GASC requirements, Nomani said, adding he had discussed the issue with the Polish ambassador.
"One basic rule we have is to diversify origins to ensure competitiveness and to purchase the grain at the lowest prices possible," Nomani said.
Syria has supplied Egypt in the past but drought has hit its harvests. "If Syria has a surplus in production again, I can add it to the list," he said.
Egypt relies on foreign wheat supplies for about half its annual needs of about 14 million tons. Consumption per capita remains among the highest in the world at 180 kg per person per year, more than double the worldwide average, Nomani said.
"Egyptian citizens' dietary awareness is starting to grow ... We've found recently that average (bread) consumption, despite population growth, is on the decline," Nomani said.
Many Egyptian rely on subsidized bread which is purchased by the state buyer.


Clic here to read the story from its source.