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Egypt

North Africa

Discover more about the Egypt market including overviews about the retail, foodservice, and food-processing sectors

1st

Largest U.S. export market for processed foods in North Africa

34%

Increase in U.S. processed food exports to Egypt in 2024

111M+

Total population in 2024

Market Overview

Euromonitor reports of a challenging economic landscape in Egypt. Deteriorating external conditions, such as the war in Ukraine that has created inflationary issues, have been compounded by the Israel-Gaza conflict, with Egypt exposed significantly to the hostilities.

USDA's Office of Agricultural Affairs in Cairo reports that Egypt imported roughly US$3 billion of consumer-oriented products in 2023. The U.S. was the fifth largest exporter to Egypt (by value), with approximately US$140 million in exports. Egypt is the largest U.S. export market for processed foods in North Africa; in 2024, U.S. processed food exports grew 34% to US$67.4 million.

Top U.S. Processed Food Exports to Egypt (2024)

Fats and Oils
Food Preparations and Ingredients
Processed/Prepared Dairy Products
Processed Vegetables and Pulses
Syrups and Sweeteners
Condiments, Sauces, Jams, and Jellies

Market Opportunities

U.S. origin products continue to enjoy acceptance in the Egyptian market
Companies seek new ingredients, especially affordable unprocessed commodities
Egyptian food processing is growing; it requires more imported food ingredients

Key Issues

Economic challenges have led to considerable slowdown in imports
Geographic proximity favors competing suppliers due to higher shipping costs
Import regulations are, at times, complex and non-transparent

Retail Sector

$12.4B

Total retail sales in the packaged food market in 2024

60%

Of retail food market sales attributed to small local grocers

$23.8B

Expected retail sales in the packaged food market by 2029

Small local grocers are the dominant channel in the Egyptian retail market, comprising more than US$13 billion in retail sales and approximately 60% market share. However, the food retail industry in Egypt is becoming increasingly competitive, with both local and international players competing for market share.

Foodservice Sector

$3.8B

Market size in 2024

15%

Of GDP from tourism

$4.7B

Expected by 2029

The Egyptian HRI sector registered healthy growth in 2023, with a rise in luxurious dining experiences and premium restaurants offering new creative concepts.

Food-Processing Sector

The food-processing sector in Egypt has been expanding gradually due to the country's large population and increasing growth. Egypt's food industry exports reached US$3.2 billion in the first half of 2024, marking a 25% increase compared to 2023.

The European Union and Arab countries were among the top importers of Egyptian food products.

Additional Market Data

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