Private bakeries can now get their hands on state wheat: Bakeries will join the list of private sector players eligible to buy wheat from state grain buyer GASC at EGP 10k per ton, according to a Supply Ministry statement.

This is limited for now to bakeries in Greater Cairo, Alexandria and Menoufia, who can start putting in requests for wheat starting tomorrow for a period of one month. GASC will take 72 hours to respond to requests. The scheme will be rolled out to the remaining governorates, the ministry said, without specifying when.

Private bakeries will need to stick to the state’s price list: Bakeries that source their wheat from GASC will have to adhere to ministry prices, which put the 40-gram fino loaf at EGP 0.75, the 60-gram loaf at EGP 1.00 and the unsubsidized 75-gram loaf of bread at EGP 1.00.

REMEMBER- GASC last week started selling wheat to private mills and flour to some private pasta makers for a month-long period, in a bid to bring down bread prices. There have been reports that some 700k tons of wheat destined for the private sector is stuck at ports amid the FX shortage.