Brexit is leading the UK wheat industry to make some new friends.
The European Union is currently the top destination for UK wheat, but with market access uncertain in the aftermath of Brexit, the nation is turning on the charm for Egypt, the world’s largest buyer.
A trade delegation will arrive in Cairo to showcase UK flour to millers and bakers from four private and three government-controlled Egyptian companies, which together control 70%-80% of Egypt’s wheat imports, the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) said in a statement.
The visit is aimed at demonstrating UK flour for baked goods that are in short supply in Egypt, it said.
Export Opportunities
“In a post-Brexit environment, the ability to be fleet of foot when export opportunities arise is key,” Phil Hadley, AHDB’s international market development director, said in the statement.
“[Egypt is] a significant opportunity for British agriculture, which typically produces a surplus of wheat and exports over 80% of this to the European Union,” AHDB said.
The North African country typically needs 11 million metric tonnes of wheat annually and hasn’t imported UK grain. About 70% of imports are from Russia and other Black Sea countries, and the rest comes from France, Germany, Australia and the US, AHDB said.
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