Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade noted that Egypt’s food industry exports reached $4.6 billion by the end of September 2024, marking an 18% growth compared to $3.9 billion during the same period in 2023
The 9th edition of the Food Africa, Fresh Africa, and Pac Process exhibitions kicked off at the Egypt International Exhibitions Center, running from December 3 to 5, 2024. The event spans 45,000 square meters and features 1,018 companies from 39 countries, including Germany, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, India, Poland, and Russia, with Turkey honoured as the guest country.
The exhibitions focus on food industries, agricultural products, dates, packaging, and food processing machinery, under the auspices of the Ministries of Investment and Foreign Trade, Industry, and Supply.
Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, Hassan El-Khatib, highlighted that the exhibitions reflect Egypt’s strategic direction towards developing its export sectors. He noted that Egypt’s food industry exports reached $4.6 billion by the end of September 2024, marking an 18% growth compared to $3.9 billion during the same period in 2023. Arab countries are the largest importers of Egyptian food products, followed by the European Union, non-Arab African countries, and the United States.
Key importing nations include Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Palestine, Libya, the Netherlands, Jordan, Morocco, and Spain. The primary exported products during this period were beverage concentrates, flour, frozen strawberries, sugar, juices, cooking oils, biscuits, grains, frozen vegetables, table olives, and frozen potatoes.
El-Khatib emphasized the importance of increasing agricultural exports to African markets, which currently represent only 2% of Egypt’s total agricultural exports. During the 2023/2024 season, agricultural exports to Africa amounted to 125,000 tons worth $80 million. He highlighted that agricultural exports are vital to Egypt’s trade, with a total of 7.1 million tons valued at $4.1 billion exported during the first ten months of 2024. Citrus fruits led the way, with 2.3 million tons exported, positioning Egypt as the world’s top orange exporter.
The minister announced strategic measures to enhance agricultural exports, including the European Union’s decision to reduce pesticide residue checks on Egyptian citrus and a joint ministerial decision between the Ministries of Investment and Agriculture to implement a comprehensive system for the production, inspection, and export of high-quality Egyptian potatoes, aligned with international standards.
He also celebrated the launch of the “Ro-Ro” maritime transport line for perishable goods between Egypt’s Damietta Port and Italy’s Trieste Port. This new line, operating weekly with an initial capacity of 70 refrigerated and 70 dry trucks, provides significant competitive advantages for Egyptian exports to Europe.
The launch of this shipping line is part of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s vision of transforming Egypt into a regional hub for logistics and transit trade. It also aims to open new markets for Egyptian exports of agricultural products to European markets, aligning with the broader national export strategy.
