Egypt Extends Smart‑Card Bread Subsidy System and Sets 20 Piastres Price per Loaf

The Egyptian cabinet approved the renewal of contracts with the smart‑card operators Smart and Afeit for a full year beginning 1 July 2026, ensuring the continuation of the electronic distribution system for subsidised bread and other food items. The 2026/27 state budget raised the allocation for the bread and food‑subsidy programme to 178 billion EGP, up from 160 billion EGP, to sustain support for low‑income households.

The Ministry of Supply issued instructions to launch a direct‑deduction mechanism for the production of subsidised local bread from 1 August 2026. The price of each subsidised loaf remains fixed at 20 piastres, and each eligible citizen receives five 90‑gram loaves daily. Any unclaimed portion is converted into "bread points" worth 50 piastres each, redeemable for other subsidised goods. The decree also details wheat and flour pricing, cash advances to bakeries, and the electronic verification of production quantities to improve transparency and prevent abuse.