Egyptian Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawi speaking during his speech at the opening of the 32nd Annual International Conference and Exhibition of the Arab Fertilizer Association. Photo courtesy of Egyptian cabinet.
Speaking at the opening of the 32nd Annual International Conference and Exhibition of the Arab Fertilizer Association, Badawi noted that Egypt holds the world's third-largest phosphate rock reserves, with geological reserves estimated at 3.1 billion tons, providing a strong foundation for expanding phosphate fertilizer production in the near future.
The country's annual urea production capacity stands at around 6.5 million tons, making Egypt one of the largest producers in the Arab world, while ammonia production capacity exceeds 5 million tons annually, he added.
The minister also stated that Egypt has one of the region's most diversified and competitive fertilizer industries, particularly in nitrogen fertilizers, supported by abundant phosphate reserves and significant production capacity.
With domestic urea consumption totalling approximately 2.9 million tons a year, Egypt has a substantial export surplus that is shipped primarily to markets in Europe, Africa, and Asia, Badawi added.
He described the fertilizer industry as strategically important because it sits at the intersection of the energy, agriculture, and industrial sectors, serving as a cornerstone of global food security.
Deep Market Insights values Egypt's agricultural inputs market, including fertilizers, pesticides, seeds, and plant growth regulators, at $5.3 billion in 2025, projecting it to reach around $7.7 billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 4.15 percent from 2026 to 2034.
Egypt accounted for 0.92 percent of the global agricultural inputs market in 2025 and is identified as the fastest-growing market in the Middle East and Africa, anticipated to reach $ 9.8 billion by 2034.
Mining expansion targets stronger economic contribution
Meanwhile, Badawi said the government is working to raise the mining sector's contribution to gross domestic product from around one percent currently to six percent over the coming years.
The plan includes overhauling the mining sector's regulatory framework and transforming the Egyptian Mineral Resources Authority into an economic entity under the name Mineral Resources and Mining Industries Authority, as part of broader efforts to unlock the sector's economic potential.
Fertilizer industry supports food security and exports
Speaking at the conference, Minister of Industry Khaled Hashem said the fertilizer industry plays a pivotal role in Egypt's strategy to expand agricultural production through national mega-projects aimed at strengthening food security. These projects include the New Delta Project and the Mostaqbal Misr (Future of Egypt) Sustainable Development Project.
He said fertilizers and agricultural nutrients are essential inputs for maximizing the productivity of reclaimed land, increasing crop yields, and supporting sustainable agricultural development.
Hashem added that stronger integration between the fertilizer industry, agriculture, and food manufacturing would create greater value for the national economy by strengthening domestic value chains, creating jobs, and improving the competitiveness of Egyptian products in local, regional, and international markets.
Industrial strategy targets $100 billion in exports by 2030
Hashem said industrial development remains a key pillar of Egypt's sustainable economic growth strategy, noting that the Ministry of Industry is implementing a comprehensive plan to increase industrial exports to $100 billion by 2030.
The strategy focuses on attracting foreign investment linked to technology transfer, deepening local manufacturing, and integrating Egypt more closely into global production and value chains.
The ministry is also working with the private sector and relevant stakeholders to improve the industrial business environment, streamline procedures, and enhance investor services, supporting the expansion of Egyptian industry and reinforcing the country's position as a regional manufacturing hub with access to global markets.
Badawi’s remarks come amid heightened regional uncertainty following the US-Iran war, which has disrupted fertilizer production and raised concerns over global food security.
The disruption to Gulf fertilizer output and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has increased the importance of Egypt’s role as a potential alternative supplier, despite the country also facing economic pressures from the conflict.
Egypt was also among the countries hit hardest economically by the Middle East conflict after Israel halted vital natural gas exports to the country. The disruption had an immediate impact on Egypt’s fertilizer producers.
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