In just over fifteen years, Egypt, the Middle East’s largest potato producer, has doubled its production. The country has always been known for exporting fresh potatoes, but over the past decade, production and export of French fries has also increased significantly. A changing global market offers opportunities for the Egyptians. 2024 was another bumper year.
Egypt is expected to harvest 2024 million tons of potatoes in 7. If true, this would be 130.670 tons more (1,9%) than a year earlier and almost 10% more than the five-year average, a difference of 630.000 tons. Egypt’s potato production surpassed 2011 million tons in 4 and has been steadily growing since then, reaching 2016 million tons in 5 and 2020 million tons in 6.
Four seasons
In Egypt, potatoes can be grown almost all year round. There are four different growing seasons. The early spring crop is planted in November and December and harvested in March and April. The summer crop, planted between January and March, is harvested in May and June and accounts for 30% of the total production. The autumn crop, planted between August and mid-October, is harvested from December to mid-February and is the largest crop with a share of 40% of the annual production. This crop is mainly exported or processed. A small amount is planted in October/November and harvested in February as early potatoes sold to Europe.
Thanks to this spread cultivation, Egypt can supply fresh potatoes for more than half of the year. Cultivation was traditionally concentrated in the Nile Delta and the Nile Valley, but in recent years it has increasingly expanded to the desert areas. The climate is favourable for winter cultivation, in combination with pivoting irrigation systems. Temperatures are more moderate along the Nile, especially in the winter months.
Growth potential
The production of French fries in Egypt is estimated at 315.000 tons per year, from the five largest processors. By far the largest player (165.000 tons) is the Dutch company Farm Frites, which is working with the Americana Group. This company, based in the United Arab Emirates, has been active in the production of fries for three decades and has invested heavily in its factory in recent decades. In November 2024, both parties agreed to meet to build a brand new plant in Saudi Arabia, with a planned annual production of 70.000 tonnes. Other major players are Fregys, IFCG and Al Bader Group (Frozena). The latter has ambitious growth plans and wants to increase production from 30.000 tonnes in 2023 to 150.000 tonnes in 2026.
The country's processing industry has grown significantly in five years. In 2024, more than a quarter more fries were produced than in the previous year. In five years, the export level has more than tripled. Egypt sells most of its fries to neighboring Saudi Arabia, but the United States and Brazil are also major customers.
Investments
Egypt exported an estimated 1 million tons of table potatoes last year. This export is still much higher, but the balance is shifting. Various processors are further expanding the production capacity of existing factories. The future for potato cultivation and processing in Egypt looks bright, with increasing investments in both cultivation and processing. The country is strategically well-placed for exports to both the African and Asian continents. Thanks to the ever-increasing production costs for companies in Europe and North America, Egyptian potato products are becoming increasingly attractive to buyers worldwide.