• Egypt targets $14 billion in food export revenue in 2026, up 22%

• Expansion into new markets across Latin America and the Gulf drives strategy

• Goal is to reduce a large and persistent food import bill

Food and agricultural exports from Egypt are set to rise sharply in 2026 as the country looks to reduce its heavy import bill. According to Agriculture Minister Alaa Farouk, cited by local media on April 6, Egypt aims to generate $14 billion from these exports.

If achieved, the target would mark a 21.73% increase from the $11.5 billion recorded by the agro-industrial sector the previous year. While officials have not detailed the drivers behind this projection, Cairo has stepped up efforts since the start of the year to expand the global reach of its agricultural exports as part of a broader push to diversify markets.

On January 1, the government announced it had secured approval from the Dominican Republic to export citrus fruits, including oranges, lemons, and mandarins. On March 9, Egypt gained access to the Panamanian market for citrus products. Later that month, on March 14, the agriculture ministry unveiled a strategy to strengthen export access to Gulf markets, targeting the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain.

More recently, on April 3, Egypt announced the opening of Uruguay’s market to its onion and garlic exports. This steady push into new markets comes as the Central Administration of Agricultural Quarantine reported that Egyptian exporters gained access to 25 new export markets in 2025.

Beyond growth, the strategy reflects a structural challenge. Egypt remains Africa’s largest food importer, and boosting export revenues is seen as key to easing pressure on its food trade balance. According to UNCTAD, the country’s annual food import bill averaged $16.42 billion between 2021 and 2023.

Stéphanas Assocle