Citing data from the Russian Export Center, Russia Today said Egypt imported $1.8 billion in imported goods from Russia in 2017, up 44% from 2016.

Of the 2017 total, food imports accounted for $1.73 billion, with a significant amount of that total coming in the form of wheat.

“Russia has recently boosted wheat export contracts on expectations of a record grain harvest, and Egypt is one of its biggest customers,” Russia Today noted in its article. “Wheat exports to Egypt have averaged between four and five million tons a year and are expected to reach six million tons. Moscow and Cairo are currently in discussions regarding the possibility of Russian participation in the construction of grain infrastructure in Egypt.”