On 5 January, the Government announced that the procurement price to be paid for the 2017 wheat crop to be harvested from mid-April, will be based on the average international price prevailing in the two months immediately prior to the purchase and not at the price set in early November last year (FPMA Food Policies). The measure aims to curb government subsidies and fraud risks. Egypt remains the world’s largest wheat importer, with imports in 2016/17 marketing year (July/June) forecast at 12 million tonnes, about the same as in the previous year and the 2016 wheat output estimated at an a average level of 9 million tonnes.