CAIRO  - Egypt has strategic wheat reserves to last for more than four months, the cabinet said on Friday.

The statement came a day after Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said Egypt had reserves of staple commodities sufficient for about three months but was working to increase them to six months to ensure supply during the coronavirus outbreak. 

Egypt, the world's largest wheat buyer, is expecting the harvest season of its local crop to begin by mid-April. On Wednesday, the country's state grains buyer, the General Authority for Supply Commodities (GASC), issued an international wheat tender then quickly cancelled it without giving a reason.

On March 18, Supply Minister Ali Moselhy said Egypt had 3.5 months of wheat reserves.

Egypt has confirmed 865 coronavirus cases including 58 deaths. It has imposed a night curfew and shut down schools, places of worship and civilian flights.

(Reporting by Moamen Said Atallah Writing by Aidan Lewis Editing by David Goodman and Giles Elgood) ((Aidan.Lewis@tr.com; +20-1001174410;))