Cairo: Egypt's agricultural exports rose to a record 9.5 million tons in 2025, up by more than 800,000 tons from the previous year, Agriculture and Land Reclamation Minister Alaa Farouk said on Wednesday, January 21, 2026. The value of Egypt's fresh and processed agricultural exports reached an unprecedented $11.5 billion over the year, accounting for about 24% of the country's total exports worldwide, Farouk said in a statement. The figures underscore agriculture's growing role as a key driver of economic growth and a major source of foreign currency, he added.
According to State Information Service Egypt, an official report by the Central Administration of Agricultural Quarantine highlighted that citrus fruits topped Egypt's export list at around 2 million tons, reinforcing the country's position as the world's largest orange exporter for the sixth consecutive year. Potatoes ranked second with exports of 1.3 million tons, followed by sweet potatoes, which recorded an increase to 387,000 tons.
Other leading exports included fresh and dried beans at about 336,000 tons, fresh onions at 288,000 tons, and grapes at around 191,000 tons. Pomegranates and mangoes followed with 136,000 tons and 126,000 tons respectively, while tomatoes and strawberries reached 68,000 tons and 64,000 tons. The report pointed to growth in European demand for several Egyptian products.
Farouk said the performance reflected the success of the government's strategy to strengthen food security and transform agriculture into a primary source of hard currency. He noted that Egyptian products enjoy confidence in international markets due to their quality, with around 405 agricultural products currently exported to 167 countries, enhancing Egypt's standing as a global agricultural player.
The minister praised efforts across the export value chain, from farmers to exporters, highlighting the role of the agricultural quarantine authority and reference laboratories in ensuring product safety. He also cited the ministry's work, in coordination with other agencies, to open new and non-traditional markets, overcome logistical and procedural hurdles, and fully digitize quarantine services. The digitalization has helped speed up inspection and certification, cutting customs clearance times and boosting export flows, he said.
In a related statement, Mohamed El-Mansi, head of the Central Administration of Agricultural Quarantine, said Egypt opened 25 new export markets in 2025, including destinations in East Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. He highlighted measures to enhance competitiveness, such as a farm coding system that allows full traceability from field to final consumer, strict oversight and compliance with international phytosanitary and quality standards, and the ability of Egyptian products to compete in European and Gulf markets.