Private sector silos will be used in storing wheat during the 2017 wheat harvest collection season, said the Supply Minister. These, however, will be under specific guidelines, said the minister who did not announce what they were. The government’s current storage capacity stands at 750K tonnes, with 1.5 mn tonnes of capacity expected to be added once the UAE-funded silos become operational. The ministry does intend on using Blumberg Grain’s 105 shounas, which the minister states has a capacity of 320K tonnes, AMAY reports. This contradicts reports that the joint agriculture-supply committee setting up regulations for the harvest season have sidelined the private sector.

On the issue of wheat imports, Swiss inspection firm SGS said yesterday it has not spoken with Egypt on inspecting wheat cargos, Reuters reports The news comes contrary to an announcement by Agriculture Minister Essam Fayed in September about SGS replacing government experts as part of an overhaul of the import system. An SGS spokesperson told Reuters: “I think it is a case of miscommunication.”