Browse Data and Analysis

On December 19, 2021, Egypt’s National Food Safety Authority (NFSA) released Decision No. 9/2021, Handling of Imported Food Consignments Subject to Temporary Release, made effective the day following its publication in the Egyptian Chronicles – Annex 1: unofficial translation is included herein.

Egypt imported some $3.8 billion worth of consumer-oriented products in 2021. This is a decrease of 8.67 percent from 2020 imports of $4.1 billion. The United States was the third largest exporter to Egypt with approximately $243 million in exports accounting for roughly 6 percent market share. This is an increase of about 19 percent from 2020 export value of $204 million.

On June 30, Egypt's General Authority for Supply Commodities (GASC) purchased 815,000 metric tons (MT) of wheat in a tender from four countries – France, Romania, Russia, and Bulgaria.

After more than 100 days of the Russian-Ukrainian war, wheat prices have surged almost 60 percent globally, hitting their highest levels in 14 years. Egypt, similar to the rest of the world, has been affected by the impacts of this war, especially since 82 percent of its wheat imports over the last five years originated in Russia and Ukraine.

Egypt reversed the widely criticized mandate by the Central Bank of Egypt for importers to utilize a process where letters of credit would substitute the long-established cash-against-documents process.

Egypt maintains a steady production of sugarcane, however sugar beet production areas are expanding. FAS Cairo (Post) forecasts refined sugar production in marketing year (MY) 2022/23 to increase by approximately 2.5 percent, or 70,000 metric tons (MT), to reach 2.92 million metric tons (MMT).

In market year (MY) 2022/23, cotton area harvested is forecast to increase 14 percent to 97,000 hectares (ha), from 85,000 ha in MY 2021/22. Post estimates MY 2022/23 production at 320,000 bales compared to 280,000 bales in MY 2021/22.

The 2021 U.S. Agricultural Export Yearbook provides a statistical summary of U.S. agricultural commodity exports to the world.

Marketing year 2020/21 was another record year for U.S.-origin soybean exports to Egypt. The United States, with 2.53 MMT in exports, was Egypt’s largest supplier of soybeans. Egypt’s soybean imports in marketing year (MY) 2022/23 (October-September) are forecast at 4.0 million metric tons (MMT), up 400,000 MT from the MY 2021/22 estimate.

Egypt is closely following the repercussions of the Russian-Ukrainian crisis. Certainly Egypt’s grains imports from both countries were affected. Accordingly, FAS Cairo forecasts Egypt’s wheat imports in MY 2022/23 (July – June) at 11 MMT, down by 8.3 percent from MY 2021/22 Post’s import estimate figure of 12 MMT.

On March 14, 2022, under the Egyptian prime minister's direction, the General Organization for Veterinary Services (GOVS) distributed a letter with instructions for its veterinary posts across the country.

The Egyptian Halal Standard Committee completed a first draft of the Halal standard on February 16, 2022. This committee is headed by the Ministry of Trade’s Organization for Standardization (EOS) and includes members of other ministries as well as private sector representatives.