Egypt' recent rate of population growth, 22.3 percent between 2006 and 2015, could mean a total of 100 million or more in less than five years. This will have an impact on future grain consumption as wheat imports rose by 45 percent during the 2006-15 period.

  Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST COMMENTS The most recent FAO report in Tunisia noted drops in wheat and barley production of 27 percent and 62 percent, respectively. These declines reflect the serious damage caused by the extremely hot weather at the end of the growing season, which had looked very good at its start until the heat arrived. Wheat production is expected to fall from 1.5 MMT to 1.1 MMT, while barley decreases from close to 800,000 MT to 300,000 MT...