Egypt's food factories are having their best year on record, and the rest of the region is buying. Egypt's processed-food exports reached $5.821 billion from January to September 2026, up 12.6% from $5.170 billion a year earlier. That is about $651 million more, and the highest nine-month total the sector has recorded, according to the Food Industries Export Council.
The year so far
Growth picked up after a slower start:
Q1: $1.770B, up 7.9%
Q2: $2.055B, up 15.9%
Q3: $1.996B, up 13.6%
September: about $655M, up 20.9%
Q2 and Q3 delivered about 80% of the year's increase.
Where it goes
Arab countries remain the core market, but Europe and the US grew faster.
Arab countries: $2.749B, up 9.2%, about 47% of exports
European Union: $1.247B, up 17.4%, about 21%
Non-Arab Africa: $414M, up 7.4%
United States: $403M, up 18.2%, the fastest-growing major group
The top buyers
Saudi Arabia: $475M, up 16%. Chocolate alone added about $70M, with soft drink concentrates and dairy also rising.
United States: $403M, up 18%, led by salt, cooking oils and mixed food preparations.
Jordan: $258M, up 20%.
Libya: $254M, up 9%.
Netherlands: $235M, up 23%.
Spain: $223M, up 101%. Spain added about $112M, mostly from cooking oils (+$58M), animal feed (+$26M) and processed olives (+$21M).
In all, 120 markets bought more Egyptian food this year.
What Egypt is selling
Frozen strawberries: $670M, up 9%, still the top export
Soft drink concentrates: $466M
Cooking oils: $398M, up 23%
Chocolate: $343M, up 96%
Sugar: $290M
Animal feed: $267M, up 34%
Juices: $220M, up 21%
Processed olives: $178M, up 24%
Chocolate is the standout. Its $168M gain is the biggest of any major product, and Saudi Arabia alone added about $70M of it.
Who is exporting
The exporter base is widening. Active exporters rose to 2,848 from 2,710, and Egyptian food now reaches 182 markets, up from 179. Value is still concentrated: 117 companies each export more than $10M and account for about 69% of the total.
Council chair Mahmoud Bazan said the council will work with the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade to open new markets, with more trade promotion, business delegations and market studies. Council member Ahmed El-Sebai pointed to Europe, China and the US as targets, and to fairs such as SIAL Paris and Gulfood as the route in.
What it means for the shelf
More Egyptian brands on Gulf shelves. Saudi Arabia is the top buyer and still growing, so expect Egyptian chocolate, juices and dairy to keep gaining space in Saudi aisles.
Egypt is becoming a chocolate supplier. A near doubling in one year points to growing export capacity, which matters for retailers sourcing value and private label confectionery.
Europe is opening up. Strong growth in Spain and the Netherlands shows Egyptian oils, olives and frozen fruit are finding more buyers in the EU.
Sources: Food Industries Export Council data via Veto and Sinai News (25 Oct 2026).
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