In Egypt, there was nothing to complain about last year's potato harvest. Exports, on the other hand, were slow to get going. Especially in January, international demand lagged behind, especially from Europe. However, from March onwards, the market picked up and exports rose to 'extreme' quantities.
The last export season, Egypt reached an export of over 1,1 million tons of potatoes. As far as Egypt is concerned, these are 'extreme' quantities. Southern European countries in particular, such as Greece and Italy, purchase many Egyptian potatoes, but various African destinations are also firmly in the top. Russia, on the other hand, is the major buyer of Egyptian potatoes. In the last export season, Russia was by far the largest buyer of potatoes from Egypt with 139.600 tons. Greece followed at a respectable distance with 83.800 tons, Italy with 59.800 tons and Iraq with 52.900 tons. A side note to the enormous sales of Egyptian potatoes is that in the spring of this year, the prices for Egyptian potatoes were considerably lower than in the same period last year.
At the beginning of the season, in November 2024, the price of fresh potatoes was around $302 per tonne, which was a 40% drop compared to the $504 per tonne recorded during the previous season. This price drop was mainly caused by an increase in the supply on the market.
How Egypt, as a potato producer, strengthens its export position
Egypt produces around 7 million tons of potatoes annually, divided over three harvest seasons. Egypt is investing heavily in modern agricultural techniques, efficient irrigation systems and improved logistics to strengthen its export position on the global market. The focus is on increasing export capacity, improving regulations and exploiting opportunities in emerging markets. With this approach, Egypt wants to continue to profile itself as a reliable supplier of potatoes and potato products, despite challenges such as price pressure and fluctuating global demand.
In addition to potatoes, the export of frozen fries is also on the rise. In 2023, approximately 99.000 tons of fries were exported, double the amount in 2020. The main destinations for Egyptian fries include the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Jordan. The focus here is on strengthening export opportunities, improving regulations and exploiting emerging markets. In doing so, Egypt aims to further expand its position as a reliable supplier of potatoes and potato products worldwide, despite challenges such as price pressure and fluctuations in global demand.