State news agency MENA reported on Tuesday, quoting Supply Minister Ali Moselhi.

The agency said the minister urged refineries to continue to receive sugar beet from farmers and pay on time to ensure stable supplies to the market.

Egyptians consume up to 3,3 million tonnes of sugar per year, while the country produces nearly 2,2 million tonnes of beet sugar and cane sugar each year, the supply ministry said. 

Egypt, which depends on the Nile for almost all its water needs, is trying to expand sugar beet planting as it consumes less water than cane, and has increased its cultivation area to 600,000 feddans (622,705 acres) from 485,000 feddans.