Egypt News: The food trade of Egypt continued its vigorous performance throughout the last week of August, with the exports of food commodities by the country recording an estimated figure of 172,000 tonnes from 22nd to 28th August 2026. In comparison, the import of food was significantly high, with approximately 218,000 tonnes, based on the latest data from the National Food Safety Authority (NFSA).
These statistics give an insight into the size and variety of the Egypt Food Exports and imports with hundreds of companies involved in food trade across different regions.
Strong Export Activity During the Week
Export shipments included 172,000 tonnes of products in 3,516 shipments.
This was done by about 1,300 Egyptian exporters. These exports included almost 700 food items. This is an indication that there are many commodities that Egypt exports to international markets.
Vegetables are Still Significant
There are still many vegetables that are exported from Egypt.
About 36,000 tonnes of vegetables were exported from Egypt in the week in question. There are about 40 types of vegetables which are exported. The most important ones are sweet potatoes, onions, and potatoes.
Sweet Potatoes Lead Vegetable Shipments
Sweet potatoes featured quite prominently among Egypt’s agricultural exports.
Exports of the product were recorded at around 14,000 metric tonnes, while onion exports were around 7,000 metric tonnes and potato exports at 6,000 metric tonnes.
The figures reveal the ongoing importance of Egypt’s agricultural exports in its export basket.
Fruit Exports Add to Trade Volumes
Egypt also exported approximately 25,000 tonnes of fruit across around 30 product varieties.
Strawberries were the largest fruit category during the week, followed by mangoes and citrus products.
Sudan Tops Export Destinations
Sudan was the leading destination for Egyptian food products during the reported week.
Côte d’Ivoire, Somalia, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia followed among the major markets receiving Egyptian food shipments. Overall, Egyptian food products reached 156 countries during the period.
African Markets Remain Significant
African Markets Still Matter
The placement of Sudan, Côte d’Ivoire and Somalia among the major destination countries illustrates the significance of the African markets for Egypt’s food export firms.
Proximity to Africa, pre-existing business ties, and demand for food products in that region can help Egyptian companies increase their market share in the continent.
Safaga Leads Export Shipments
Among Egypt’s export outlets, Safaga Port handled the largest number of food consignments.
It processed 645 export shipments during the week, followed by Alexandria Port with 540 and Damietta Port with 514.
Health Certificates Support Export Compliance
The NFSA issued approximately 1,300 health certificates for food export shipments during the period.
These certifications form part of the regulatory process used to demonstrate that exported food products meet applicable safety and quality requirements.
Agricultural Export Permits Issued
The authority also issued 908 export permits covering agricultural products through its stations and packing-centre administration.
The permits benefited 797 exporting companies, supporting the movement of agricultural products into international markets.
Imports Exceed Exports by Weight
On the import side, Egypt received around 218,000 tonnes of food products through 1,546 consignments.
The imports were handled on behalf of 766 companies, illustrating the substantial scale of food entering the Egyptian market.
Wheat and Oils Among Key Imports
Imported food products included essential commodities such as wheat, edible oils, broad beans and soybeans.
These products form part of Egypt’s broader food-supply system and help meet domestic consumption and industrial requirements.
Russia Leads Food Suppliers
Russia was the largest source of food imports during the week.
Indonesia, Australia, the United States and Italy followed among the leading supplier countries. In total, Egypt received food products from 80 countries during the reporting period.
Alexandria Handles Most Import Shipments
Alexandria Port was the busiest outlet for incoming food consignments.
It handled 521 shipments, followed by Cairo International Airport with 321 and Damietta Port with 194.
The figures underline the importance of Egypt’s ports and aviation infrastructure to national food security and international trade.
Faster Clearance for Food Shipments
The NFSA continued to use different clearance mechanisms to keep food moving through the country’s entry points.
During the week, 883 consignments were cleared through temporary-release procedures, while another 390 were processed through the rapid-release system.
Food Safety Remains a Priority
The expansion of food trade also increases the importance of regulatory oversight.
The NFSA placed 117 incoming consignments under precautionary hold as part of its monitoring procedures. A further 17 consignments that had failed laboratory testing remained subject to regulatory measures.
Supporting Egypt’s Export Ambitions
The latest figures come as Egypt continues efforts to expand its non-oil exports.
Food products represent an important part of that strategy because the country has a substantial agricultural base and access to markets in Africa, the Middle East and Europe.
Food Sector Expands International Reach
Egypt’s food industry has been increasing its international footprint.
According to recent information from the Food Export Council, food exports from Egypt amounted to roughly $4.5 billion within the first seven months of 2026, representing an increase of 10.7% compared to the same period in the previous year.
These numbers per week thus constitute an element in the broader expansion of the food export industry of the country.
Agricultural Products Drive Export Potential
Fresh produce remains one of Egypt’s strongest export categories.
The country’s climate and agricultural production allow exporters to supply fruits and vegetables to international markets during periods when other producing countries may face seasonal limitations.
Logistics Are Critical to Food Trade
Port cities like Safaga, Alexandria, and Damietta have a key part to play in the transportation of agriculture and processed food products.
Effective customs clearance, health certificate issuance, and prompt handling of the cargo will enable Egyptian exporters to successfully compete in foreign countries which require quick and quality deliveries.
This latest report further shows the dual responsibilities of the National Food Safety Authority.
The organization has the mandate of facilitating food trade while ensuring that safety measures are in place to protect the consumers.
Egypt’s Import Dependence Remains Significant
Although Egypt is expanding food exports, the higher import volume shows that the country continues to rely heavily on international suppliers for several essential commodities.
Wheat, oils, soybeans and other products remain important components of the import basket.
Egypt’s food trade connects the country with a wide network of international partners.
Its exports reached 156 countries during the week, while food imports came from 80 countries. This broad network gives Egyptian businesses access to diverse markets while also providing the country with multiple sources of food supplies.
BRICS24 News: Egypt’s Trade Expansion
For BRICS24 News, Egypt’s growing food trade reflects the country’s efforts to strengthen its economic position through exports and diversified international partnerships.
The combination of agricultural exports and large-scale imports also illustrates the complexity of Egypt’s food economy.
Brics 24: Food Security and Trade
For Brics 24 readers, the import figures are equally important.
Large shipments of wheat, edible oils and soybeans show how international supply chains remain essential to Egypt’s food system, while expanding exports can help generate foreign-currency earnings.
Conclusion
Egypt illustrate the extent of the activity in its export and import markets. In just one week, Egyptian companies exported about 172,000 tonnes of food products to foreign buyers, and Egypt imported around 218,000 tonnes from foreign suppliers.
For the benefit of Egypt News, Egypt, Egypt Food Exports, Egypt Food Imports, Egyptian Food Products, National Food Safety Authority, NFSA, Egypt Trade, Food Trade, Egyptian Agriculture, Food Export Market, Egypt Economy, Africa News, BRICS24 News, Brics 24, BRICS News, BRICS News Today, and TOP News readers, the performance of Egypt in the food trade is an essential economic indicator.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How much food did Egypt export during the week?
Egypt exported approximately 172,000 tonnes of food products between August 22 and 28, 2026.
2. How much food did Egypt import?
Food imports reached approximately 218,000 tonnes during the same week.
3. Which country was the largest destination for Egyptian food exports?
Sudan was the leading destination, followed by Côte d’Ivoire, Somalia, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia.
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