The monthly report issued by the FEC revealed that January exports increased by about 8 percent, reaching $330 million, up from $306 million; while February's exports marked a 1 percent decrease, reaching $335 million compared to $339 million in 2022.   

Exports to "Arab countries" – which represent 55 percent of total food exports – declined by 5 percent to reach $368 million in the first two months of 2023.

Topping the list of Arab countries importing food from Egypt, Saudi Arabia’s imports increased by 13 percent to reach $69 million.

In the second place comes Libya whose imports from Egypt recorded $44 million with a growth rate of 35 percent.  

The EU was the second-largest importer of Egyptian food industry exports with imports valued at $123 million, representing 18 percent of total exports, and a growth rate of 38 percent.

Italy and the Netherlands followed with imports valued at $22 million and $21 million, respectively, and growth rates of 101 percent and 46 percent.

The exports to the US – which represented 6 percent of total exports – reached $38 million, thus recording a 10 percent increase compared to the same period.

Sugar and glucose exports topped the list of the most important food commodities exported during January and February 2023, with a value of $51 million and a growth rate of 61 pecrent.

Frozen strawberries followed with a value of $42 million and a growth rate of 47 percent, while processed chocolate came third with a value of $38 million and a growth rate of 23 percent.

In 2022, Egypt's agricultural exports reached nearly 6.5 million tons for the first time ever, reaching a total value of about $3.3 billion, according to a statement announced by the Minister of Agriculture El-Sayed El-Quseir earlier this year.