• Deal follows bilateral talks on sanitary and technical standards
• New market could boost exports amid rising Uruguayan demand

Egypt has been cleared to export onions and garlic to Uruguay, the country's agriculture ministry said on Friday, April 3. The ministry said all technical and sanitary requirements to ensure the quality and safety of Egyptian products have been agreed with Uruguayan authorities.

According to a ministry statement, the development followed intensive negotiations between the two countries, concluded during bilateral meetings held on the sidelines of the 20th session of the Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (CSP), organized in Rome, Italy, from March 9 to 13, 2026.

Export volumes have not yet been defined, though access to a new market could boost Egypt’s export revenues. Data from Trade Map show that Egypt exported an average of nearly $220.4 million worth of onions and garlic per year between 2020 and 2024. Its main export destinations include the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates and Russia.

In Uruguay, where Egyptian exporters are now entering the market, imports of onions and garlic rose nearly sixfold over four years, from $472,000 in 2021 to $2.99 million in 2024, according to Trade Map. The country’s main suppliers are Spain, Brazil, China, Argentina and Chile.

Stéphanas Assocle