Egypt Nears Sugar Self-Sufficiency with Major Boost in Domestic Production
Ahmed Emam
Egypt is making significant strides toward achieving self-sufficiency in sugar production, thanks to government-led efforts to expand the cultivation of sugar crops and support associated industries.
The Egyptian Cabinet's Information and Decision Support Center (IDSC) published a series of infographics detailing the progress on its official social media platforms.
The campaign highlights a broader national strategy aimed at maximizing agricultural output and optimizing the use of available resources to boost food security and stabilize domestic markets.
According to the data, sugar beet cultivation has increased by 25%, with cultivated land expanding from 600,000 feddans in the 2023/2024 season to 750,000 feddans in 2024/2025. This is expected to yield 2.5 million tons of sugar, up from 1.5 million tons the previous year.
For the first time in Egypt's history, sugar production is projected to reach 2.6 million tons in 2025, compared to 2.3 million tons in 2014. The outlook is even more optimistic for 2026, with forecasts predicting a rise to 2.9 million tons.
The government's efforts have already shown results in reducing imports. Egypt's raw sugar imports dropped by 54.5% in the first quarter of 2025, falling to \$111.1 million from \$244.4 million during the same period in 2024.
The data also revealed that Egypt achieved 81% self-sufficiency in sugar as of March 2025. Authorities anticipate that sugar imports will no longer be necessary by early 2026. Current government-held stocks of subsidized sugar are sufficient to meet national demand for 13 months.
In terms of infrastructure, Egypt now boasts eight major sugar beet processing factories. Among them is Canal Sugar, the world's largest single-line beet sugar factory, which currently has a production capacity of 350,000 tons and plans to increase this to 750,000 tons by 2026.
Other key facilities include the El Sharqiya plant in New Salhiya City with a capacity of 240,000 tons, and the upgraded Delta Sugar factory, whose capacity has risen from 14,000 to 21,000 tons of beet per day.
The government is also investing in enhancing the productivity of sugarcane. This includes the establishment of seedling production stations like Wadi El-Saaida, which will supply 160 million seedlings per season, and the Kom Ombo station, with a capacity of 30 million seedlings per season.
To further incentivize sugar crop cultivation, the government allocated EGP 16 billion for sugarcane purchases in 2025, and EGP 7 billion to cover industrial operations. Reference prices have been set at EGP 2,500 per ton for sugarcane and EGP 2,400 per ton for sugar beet at a sweetness level of 16%.
Additional incentives include an early harvest bonus starting at EGP 200 per ton for beet farmers. Sugarcane farmers whose yield exceeds 30 tons per feddan will receive a bonus of EGP 50 per ton, while those exceeding 40 tons per feddan will receive EGP 100 per ton.
These initiatives represent a cornerstone of Egypt's strategic plan to secure essential food commodities, reduce import dependency, and reinforce agricultural sustainability.
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