Egyptian food industry exports achieved an unprecedented record surge during the first eight months of 2025, surpassing the $4.6 billion mark for the first time in the sector’s history for this period, reaching their highest level ever.

This strong performance represents a 9% growth compared to $4.2 billion during the same period in 2024, an increase of $368 million.

This leap reflects the growing role of the food industry as one of the key drivers of economic growth, representing about 14% of Egypt’s total non-oil exports, ranking third among the most important non-oil export sectors during the same period.

Arab countries topped the international groups importing Egyptian food products during the first eight months of 2025, with imports valued at $2.198 billion, representing 48% of total exports, with a slight decrease of about $5 million compared to the same period in 2024.

They were followed by the European Union with $962 million, an 8% growth and an increase of $69 million, representing 21% of total exports. Non-Arab African countries ranked third with $345 million, a 3% growth and an increase of $10 million, representing 7% of total exports.

The United States recorded exports worth $304 million, with a significant growth rate of 38% and an increase of $84 million, representing 7% of total exports. Other countries achieved exports worth $798 million, with a strong growth rate of 36% and an increase of $210 million, representing 17% of total Egyptian food exports during the same period.

Monthly, the year started strong in January with exports of $529 million compared to $479 million in January 2024, an 11% growth and an increase of $50 million. In February, exports slightly declined by 2% to reach $534 million compared to $543 million last year, a decrease of $9 million. In March, exports dropped to $577 million from $592 million, a 3% decrease and a decline of $15 million.

Exports then surged strongly in April, reaching $631 million compared to $534 million, an increase of $97 million and 18% growth, the highest growth rate during the period. Positive performance continued in May with exports of $631 million compared to $552 million, an increase of $79 million and 14% growth. In June, exports reached $505 million compared to $475 million, a 6% growth and an increase of $30 million.

In July, exports rose to $620 million compared to $564 million, a 10% growth and an increase of $56 million, then continued to rise in August to record $580 million compared to $500 million in August 2024, a 16% growth and an increase of $80 million. Thus, total exports for the first eight months of the year reached $4.607 billion, the highest historical level for the sector in this period.

Regarding the top importing countries of Egyptian food products during the first eight months of 2025, Saudi Arabia ranked first with $356 million, a 10% growth, followed by the United States with $304 million, a 38% growth, then Sudan with $241 million, a 16% decline, followed by Libya with $204 million and a slight decline of only $1 million.

Jordan ranked fifth with $186 million, a 20% growth, followed by the Netherlands with $172 million, a 13% decline, then Iraq with $152 million, a 27% growth, then the UAE with $151 million, an 18% growth, Algeria with $143 million, a 21% growth, and finally Lebanon in tenth place with $141 million, an 81% growth.

Regarding countries with the highest export growth value during the first eight months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, the United States topped the list with exports worth about $274 million and growth value of $87 million, followed by China with exports of $112 million and growth of $64 million, then Lebanon with exports of $126 million and growth of $57 million, Germany with exports of $119 million and growth of $33 million, and Italy with exports of $146 million and growth of $28 million.

Frozen strawberries topped the list of exported food items during the first eight months of 2025 with exports worth $571 million, achieving a large growth of 78% and an increase of $250 million compared to the same period in 2024. Cola concentrates ranked second with $404 million, a slight growth of 3% and an increase of $14 million.

Third place went to cooking oils with exports of $285 million, recording a good growth of 41% and an increase of $83 million, followed by sugar with $256 million, recording a 12% decline and a decrease of $34 million. Flour and mill products exports declined significantly to $208 million, down 39%, or about $131 million less.

Grain-based preparations recorded $224 million, a 37% growth and an increase of $61 million, and prepared animal foods saw a notable rise to $183 million, a 50% growth and an increase of $61 million. Frozen vegetables exports reached $180 million, a slight growth of 2% and an increase of $4 million, followed by frozen potatoes with $179 million, a 20% growth and an increase of $30 million.

On the other hand, juice exports declined to $166 million, a 21% decrease or about $45 million less, while vegetable preparations achieved good growth worth $148 million, a 15% increase and $19 million more. Chocolate recorded $151 million, a strong growth of 38% and an increase of $42 million.

Meanwhile, exports of pickled and processed olives dropped to $128 million, a 16% decline or about $24 million less, while yeast achieved good growth worth $130 million, a 26% increase and $27 million more. Finally, exports of various food preparations declined to $111 million, a 20% decrease or about $28 million less.