EGYPT (18 September)
Harvesting of the 2003 irrigated wheat crop was completed in July, and output has provisionally been estimated at 6.8 million tonnes, which compares to 6.6 million tonnes in 2002 and the five-year average of 6.4 million tonnes. The increase is due to the combination of a modest increase in wheat plantings in 2003 with respect to 2002 and the normal to abundant rains that have benefited the crops throughout the season. The enlarged plantings reflects the government’s programme to help increase domestic wheat production. Harvesting of the maize crop is well advanced, while that of paddy has recently started. The outlook is good and early forecasts for maize production stand at about an average 6.5 million tonnes, while paddy output should be a tentative 5.8 million tonnes, some 288 000 tonnes above the past five-year average.
Despite the increase in wheat production, wheat imports in marketing year 2003/04 (July/June) are forecast to remain close to last year’s level of imports of 6.5 million tonnes, reflecting strong domestic demand. Maize imports should also increase from 5.3 million tonnes to 5.4 million tonnes in marketing year 2003/04.