The Cabinet’s Information and Decision Support Centre (IDSC) said Egyptian food industry exports reached approximately $6.9 billion in 2025, up 68.3% from $4.1 billion in 2021.
Food industry exports accounted for around 14% of total non-petroleum commodity exports, placing the sector third among non-petroleum industrial sectors, after construction materials and chemicals and fertilisers.
In its new report, “Sustainable Food Industries”, IDSC reviewed the sector’s role in supporting food security, economic growth, employment and trade, while highlighting efforts to reduce food loss and waste, strengthen supply chains and promote more efficient and sustainable production.
The report said the number of food industry companies rose from 1,127 in 2019 to 1,530 in 2024, while issued capital increased from LE2.2 billion to LE6.6 billion.
Workers in food product manufacturing accounted for 15.4% of employment across public, public business sector and private sector establishments in the fourth quarter of 2024, according to the Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS).
The sector covers dairy products, sugar and sugar-based products, frozen vegetables and strawberries, fruit and vegetable preparations, and oils, aromatic resins and their derivatives.
IDSC stressed the importance of developing the entire value chain, including agricultural production, inputs, transport, storage, processing and market access.
State efforts include, the report highlighted, climate-resilient agriculture, modern irrigation, digital management systems, AI-supported agricultural extension and pest diagnosis, field schools established with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), and the “Hodhod” digital agricultural advisory application.
Under the National Silos Project, the number of silos reached 87, with storage capacity of approximately 3.8 million tonnes in 2025, compared with 32 silos in 2014.
Measures also include modernising flour mills, upgrading storage systems and improving transport links to reduce losses.
The report also highlighted the National Food Safety Authority, established under Law No. 1 of 2017, and green-transition measures covering waste utilisation, recycling, clean production, resource efficiency, wastewater treatment and circular-economy initiatives.
In 2025, the Ministry of Environment launched the “Sustainable Green Industries” programme with development partners to reduce pollution and emissions, improve energy and resource efficiency, promote clean technologies and enhance industrial competitiveness.
The report also highlighted Extended Producer Responsibility and investment opportunities in agricultural waste management and recycling.
