Egypt’s food exports have experienced exceptional growth in 2024, with a 17% increase between January and November, reaching $5.5 billion, compared to $4.7 billion during the same period in 2023.
This significant rise notes the resilience and competitiveness of Egypt’s food industry on the international stage, strengthening its position as a key player in global markets.
A key driver of this remarkable performance is the 80% increase in Egyptian exports to Morocco. This surge reflects the strengthening of bilateral trade relations between the two nations. Morocco, with its growing market and strategic geographical location, has become a vital partner for Egypt, benefiting from free trade agreements between the two countries and enhanced cooperation in joint development projects.
In line with this momentum, the Egyptian Export Council for Engineering (FEC) recently launched a trade mission to Morocco, gathering 20 companies from the sector to explore new export and cooperation opportunities. This project is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) under the Trade Reform and Development Project (TRADE), a strategic program aimed at modernising and enhancing Egypt’s trade capacities.
Egypt’s food exports show a strong concentration on Arab markets, which represent 53% of total exports, further solidifying historical and economic ties with neighbouring countries. Saudi Arabia remains the largest importer of Egyptian food products, with imports valued at $434 million, followed by Sudan at $363 million. Despite its challenging economic conditions, Yemen ranks tenth with $175 million in imports.
The European Union remains a strategic market for Egypt, accounting for 20% of its food exports. Non-Arab African countries represent 8%, with other international markets totaling 14%. Egypt exports 5% of its food production to the United States, marking a growing presence in the North American market.
Key Export Products
Egypt’s exported products are diverse, with a strong focus on soft drink concentrates, valued at $502 million. Other popular products include flour and starch, with $428 million in exports, frozen strawberries ($364 million), and sugar ($357 million). This product diversity reflects the flexibility and capability of Egypt’s food industry to meet global demand.
The food sector in Egypt continues to show positive dynamics, with a 18% annual growth in exports. Between January and October 2024, Egypt’s food exports totaled $4.6 billion, compared to $3.9 billion the previous year. In the first half of the year, exports grew by 25%, reaching $3.2 billion.
This sustained growth highlights Egypt’s increasing role as a key player in global food markets. Egyptian companies are becoming increasingly competitive, not only due to recognised production quality but also thanks to a policy of market diversification and strategic partnerships with key importers. Morocco, in particular, has become an essential hub for Egypt, and this bilateral trade relationship is expected to continue growing in the coming years, as export opportunities expand beyond traditional borders.
Thus, Egypt continues to forge ahead, consolidating its trade relationships in the MENA region and beyond, while developing new markets. If this trend continues, Egypt could become one of the world’s leading suppliers of food products, further strengthening its role as an indispensable player in the global economic landscape.
MK/ac/sf/lb/as/APA