Egypt has enough rice stocks to last until Oct. 2021: state news agency

CAIRO: Egypt has enough rice for the local market to last until October 2021, the head of rice at Egypt's grain chamber said on Sunday.

The chamber, which is part of the country's industry union, said there were 5 million tonnes of rice from the new season and 500,000 tonnes of stocks from the previous season, the state news agency MENA said.

Egypt consumes 2.5 million tonnes of rice a year, which means there is more than enough for the market, Ragab Shehata was quoted as saying.

(Reporting by Omar Fahmy; writing by Maha El Dahan; editing by Jason Neely) ((Maha.Dahan@thomsonreuters.com; + 9712 4082101; Reuters Messaging: maha.dahan.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))