Egypt Expands Grain Imports as Poultry and Feed Demand Surge

CMB News | Grains & Feed Markets | March 2026

Egypt is expected to remain one of the world’s largest grain importers as rising demand from the country’s poultry and feed industries continues to drive consumption. According to the latest USDA Foreign Agricultural Service Grain and Feed Annual report for Egypt, wheat imports will remain extremely high while corn imports are projected to increase further to support expanding feed production.

Despite a modest increase in domestic grain production, Egypt’s fast-growing livestock, poultry and aquaculture sectors ensure that the country will continue to rely heavily on global markets for feed grains.

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Wheat Production Rising but Imports Still Massive

Egypt’s wheat production is forecast to reach 9.8 million tonnes in the 2026/27 marketing year, reflecting a 6.5% increase from the previous season. The expansion is largely driven by higher procurement prices that encouraged farmers to increase planted area to around 1.5 million hectares.

Egypt Wheat Market (2026/27)

Indicator	Volume
Production	9.8 MMT
Imports	12.5 MMT
Total consumption	20.3 MMT
Ending stocks	4.57 MMT

Even with higher domestic production, Egypt will remain one of the largest wheat importers globally, with imports expected to reach 12.5 million tonnes.

The country depends heavily on imported wheat to supply its subsidized bread program, a cornerstone of Egypt’s food security policy.

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Private Sector Increasing Role in Wheat Imports

Over recent years, Egypt’s private sector has taken on a larger role in wheat procurement.

Private companies accounted for 63% of Egypt’s wheat imports in the most recent marketing year, reflecting improved economic conditions and more competitive international prices.

At the same time, the Egyptian government continues to maintain strategic purchases to secure supplies for the national bread subsidy system.

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Corn Imports Surge on Poultry Sector Expansion

The strongest growth in Egypt’s grain demand is coming from the feed sector.

Corn imports are forecast to rise to 10.5 million tonnes in the 2026/27 marketing year, driven by major investments in poultry production and feed manufacturing.

Egypt Corn Market (2026/27)

Indicator	Volume
Production	7.0 MMT
Imports	10.5 MMT
Consumption	17.4 MMT
Ending stocks	1.79 MMT

Domestic production covers less than 40% of feed demand, meaning imports remain critical for the industry.

Major suppliers of corn to Egypt include:

• Brazil
• Ukraine
• Argentina

In recent years, U.S. corn has also regained market share due to competitive pricing and higher starch-processing efficiency.

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Poultry Industry Drives Feed Demand

Egypt’s rapidly expanding poultry sector is the main engine behind rising feed consumption.

In 2025 the country produced:

Sector	Output
Broiler chickens (commercial farms)	1.6 billion birds
Rural poultry production	320 million birds
Table eggs	16 billion

These volumes cover approximately 97% of domestic poultry demand.

Growing investment in poultry farms, hatcheries, slaughterhouses and feed mills is expected to continue boosting demand for feed grains.

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Aquaculture Adds Additional Feed Demand

Egypt is also the largest aquaculture producer in Africa, producing nearly 1.6 million tonnes of fish annually.

Fish farming accounts for about 80% of the country’s total fish production, creating additional demand for specialized feed products.

Current fish feed demand ranges between 1.4 and 1.5 million tonnes annually, with projections suggesting the aquaculture feed market could exceed 2 million tonnes by 2032.

Key feed ingredients include:

• yellow corn (20–25%)
• wheat bran (20–30%)
• rice bran (10–25%)
• vegetable oils.

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Strategic Importance for Global Grain Markets

Egypt’s grain demand plays a crucial role in global agricultural trade. As one of the largest wheat importers and a major buyer of feed corn, changes in Egypt’s import demand can significantly influence global grain prices and trade flows.

The country’s dependence on imports also means that disruptions in international supply chains or shipping routes could quickly impact domestic food security.

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Outlook

Egypt’s grain demand is expected to remain strong in the coming years as population growth and expanding livestock production increase pressure on food supply systems.

Even with rising domestic production, the country will remain highly dependent on global grain markets to meet its food and feed requirements.

For global exporters, Egypt will therefore continue to be one of the most important import destinations for both wheat and corn in the international grain trade.

Source: USDA