Production and trade of wheat in light of the concept of virtual water

The main objective of this research is to estimate the hypothetical water balance (net hypothetical water trade) for the wheat crop in Egypt by identifying the volume of production and trade of the wheat crop during the period (2000-2020), in addition to knowing the deficit or surplus achieved from the trade of the wheat crop according to the concept of Virtual water. The results of the research show that (1) the total production of wheat ranged between a minimum of about 6256.12 thousand tons in 2001, and a maximum of about 9792.70 thousand tons in 2015, representing about 76.6% and 119.9%, respectively. From the average total production of wheat, which amounted to about 8166.89 thousand tons, with a statistically significant annual increase amounting to about 133.57 thousand tons during the study period. (2) The amount of wheat exports ranged between a minimum of about 0.02 thousand tons in 2000, and a maximum of about 4870.0 thousand tons in 2018, representing about 0.01% and 1515.1%, respectively, of the average wheat exports. The amount is about 321.44 thousand tons, with a statistically insignificant annual increase of about 63.36 thousand tons during the study period. (3) The amount of wheat imports ranged between a minimum of about 2818.0 thousand tons in 2001, and a maximum of about 17119.0 thousand tons in 2018, representing about 35.4% and 215.1%, respectively, of the average wheat imports.