Egypt has announced plans to establish a large regional grain hub based on its port and logistics infrastructure. The initiative was discussed during the Russian Grain Forum in Sochi, where Egyptian officials held negotiations with major Russian exporters and logistics companies, including Demetra Holding and OZK. The project would involve not only grain storage and transshipment operations but also value-added processing such as flour milling, pasta production, feed manufacturing, and edible oil processing.
Egypt’s Minister of Supply, Sherif Farouk, stated that the country aims to become a major grain trading center serving the Middle East, Africa, and parts of Asia. As part of the initiative, Cairo also plans to strengthen cooperation with Russian commodity exchanges and develop digital systems for grain tracking, pricing, and logistics management. Particular attention is being given to long-term Russian wheat supply contracts and the expansion of modern grain storage infrastructure.
Egypt already remains the world’s largest importer of Russian wheat, while cooperation between Cairo and Moscow extends well beyond agriculture. In addition to grain projects, the two countries are implementing joint energy and industrial initiatives, including the construction of the El Dabaa nuclear power plant and the development of a Russian industrial zone near the Suez Canal. Analysts believe the creation of a grain hub could significantly strengthen Russia’s influence across African and Middle Eastern agricultural markets.
Agricultural market experts note that the proposed hub could reshape grain trade dynamics in the Mediterranean region. For Ukraine, this may lead to stronger competition in traditional export markets, particularly in wheat and flour-related products. At the same time, the expansion of Egyptian logistics infrastructure could influence global grain trade routes and pricing benchmarks across the region.