Egypt agriculture expands land area and exports amid corn price volatility

Egypt is experiencing significant shifts in its agricultural sector, characterized by both expanding land use and economic challenges for specific crops. Agricultural land in the country has increased from approximately 8 million feddans in 2014 to 10.5 million feddans, a growth of 2.5 million feddans. This expansion has contributed to a surge in agricultural exports, which are projected to reach $13 billion by the end of the year, potentially surpassing Suez Canal revenues.

Despite these macro-level successes, individual farmers face severe economic pressure. The price of corn has dropped sharply from approximately 1,800 EGP to 1,000 EGP per karat, while the costs of seeds, fertilizers, irrigation, and labor remain high. This price decline is attributed to increased local supply during harvest, competition from imported corn, and market pricing structures.

In terms of food security, wheat production reached approximately 10.5 million tons in the most recent season, reducing the national wheat gap to roughly 6.5 million tons. Current local production now exceeds the requirements for subsidized bread, though imports remain necessary for other bakery products.