Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Alaa Farouq said on Friday, August 28, 2026, that Egypt’s agricultural exports reached approximately 6.8 million tons since the beginning of the year. In a statement, Farouq attributed the notable increase in agricultural export volumes to the state’s efforts to enhance the competitiveness of Egyptian agricultural products, farmers’ and exporters’ compliance with quality standards, and continued efforts to open new export markets for Egyptian products.
Farouk stressed that the presence of Egyptian crops in major international markets reflects international confidence in the safety and quality of Egyptian agricultural products. He explained that measures adopted by the Ministry of Agriculture to enhance the competitiveness of Egyptian products include the implementation of a coding and digital traceability system for all export-oriented farms.
The system ensures close monitoring throughout the production chain, from cultivation through to the product’s arrival at the end consumer in the importing country. The minister said the state attaches the utmost importance to agricultural exports as a key source of foreign currency and a major contributor to the national economy.
He also praised continued coordination among the ministry’s relevant bodies, including the Central Administration of Plant Quarantine, accredited reference laboratories, the Agricultural Relations Department and the Agricultural Crops Export Council. These entities work to address obstacles facing export shipments and facilitate trade flows without compromising stringent technical requirements, he added.
Farouq said efforts to expand agricultural exports are being accompanied by measures to maximize the added value of crops and utilize export surpluses in agro-processing industries. The next phase, he said, will focus on opening additional markets in Africa, Asia and Latin America, building on the strong competitive reputation of Egyptian grapes, citrus fruits, potatoes and other specialized crops.
According to an official report issued by the Central Administration of Plant Quarantine at the Agricultural Services Sector, citrus fruits ranked first among Egypt’s agricultural exports, with shipments totaling 2.3 million tons. Fresh potatoes ranked second, with exports reaching 929,000 tons, followed by sweet potatoes at 280,000 tons.