Egypt Achieves Sugar Self-Sufficiency at Over 3 Million Tonnes in 2025

Egypt has achieved full self-sufficiency in sugar production for 2025, with total output exceeding 3 million tonnes, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation. Officials confirmed that beginning in 2026, Egypt will no longer rely on sugar imports to meet domestic demand.

This development comes as a result of expanded sugar crop cultivation, particularly sugar beets. The cultivated area for beets rose from 600,000 feddans in 2023 to more than 780,000 feddans in 2025. Farmers were further incentivised by increased purchase prices, with rates reaching EGP 2,500 per tonne for sugar cane and EGP 3,000 per tonne for sugar beets.

This year’s harvest included approximately 620,000 tonnes of sugar extracted from sugar cane and around 2.5 million tonnes from sugar beets. The production figures represent a significant increase compared to previous years, positioning Egypt as self-reliant in one of its key food staples for the first time in decades.

Officials from the Ministry of Agriculture stated that the achievement will help ease pressure on Egypt’s foreign currency reserves by eliminating the need for sugar imports. It is also expected to improve food security and stabilise prices in the local market.

The ministry attributed the milestone to several government-supported agricultural initiatives, including updated cultivation guidance and incentive programmes aimed at increasing the production of strategic crops such as sugar.