CAIRO – Egypt's food industry has achieved remarkable export growth in 2024, exceeding initial targets and demonstrating the increasing competitiveness of Egyptian products in the global market. The Food Export Council (FEC) announced that exports reached over $6.1 billion, a substantial 21 percent increase, or $1.059 billion, compared to 2023. This figure surpasses the $6 billion target set by the FEC in September.

FEC Chairman Mahmoud Bazan attributed this success to government support for non-oil exports and the enhanced quality and appeal of Egyptian food products internationally. He emphasized the growing recognition of Egyptian brands on the world stage.

A significant portion of Egypt's food exports, 54 percent, was destined for Arab countries. The European Union (EU) followed as the second largest recipient, accounting for 19 percent. Non-Arab African nations imported 8 percent, while other international markets received 14 percent. The United States accounted for 5 percent of Egypt's food exports.

Among individual nations, Saudi Arabia emerged as the top importer of Egyptian food products, with imports valued at $491 million. Sudan followed closely with $412 million, and Libya secured the third position with $333 million. The United States ranked fourth, importing $330 million worth of Egyptian food products, while the United Arab Emirates ranked tenth, importing $195 million.

The most exported commodities included soft drink concentrates ($532 million), flour and semolina ($464 million), sugar ($704 million), and frozen strawberries ($381 million).

This impressive growth trajectory was maintained throughout 2024. From January to November, food exports totaled $4.6 billion, reflecting an 18 percent increase compared to the $3.9 billion recorded during the same period in 2023.

Over the past decade, from 2014 to 2024, Egypt's total processed food exports have reached $41.1 billion. Looking ahead, the FEC has set an ambitious target of a 15 percent compound annual growth rate, projecting exports to reach $7.7 billion by 2027.

The robust growth of the food sector is underpinned by substantial investments. According to the Industrial Modernization Centre (IMC), investments in Egypt’s food industry are estimated at EGP 500 billion. The IMC also highlighted the sector's vital role in the national economy, contributing 24.5 percent to the country's GDP and providing 23.3 percent of all workforce opportunities, generating approximately seven million jobs.

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