Wheat suppliers shun Egypt's purchase tender over ergot policy

ABU DHABI: Egypt's state grain buyer, the General Authority for Supply Commodities (GASC), did not get any offers from global wheat suppliers at its purchase tender on Friday on the back of continuing worries over the country's ergot fungus policy, Cairo-based traders said.

Egypt, the world's largest wheat importer, had cancelled its last wheat tender on Aug. 31 after receiving only one sale offer after it switched to a zero-tolerance policy for the common grain fungus ergot.

The country has experienced major disruption to its grain imports this year because of its hard-line stance on the fungus. On Aug. 28, Egypt reinstated a ban on imports of wheat with even the smallest amount of ergot content.