Egypt resumes poultry exports to Qatar after nearly 20-year halt
Authorities eye expansion into additional Gulf markets
EGYPT – Egypt has restarted poultry exports to Qatar for the first time in almost two decades, marking a shift after prolonged restrictions linked to avian influenza outbreaks that had previously cut off access to international buyers.
The initial consignment, consisting of roughly 300 tonnes of poultry products packed into ten containers, represents the first outbound shipment since exports were suspended due to recurring disease incidents that disrupted production and trade flows.
Authorities attribute the reopening of export channels to tighter biosecurity protocols, improved farm practices, and updated regulatory controls that have brought production systems in line with import requirements set by foreign markets.
At the same time, increased domestic output has created excess supply beyond local consumption needs, prompting producers to seek external markets as a way to manage inventory and avoid downward pressure on farmgate prices.
Export strategy expands
Officials indicate that discussions are underway to extend poultry exports to other Gulf destinations, with Kuwait among the countries currently under consideration as Egypt works to widen its regional market access.
In addition to whole poultry shipments, the export plan includes scaling up volumes of processed poultry meat and table eggs, reflecting a broader effort to diversify product offerings and capture different segments of demand.
The push into export markets comes alongside measures to maintain balance within the domestic supply chain, including agreements to distribute more than 1,000 tonnes of frozen poultry locally to prevent shortages and stabilise availability.
Coordinated industry effort
Government agencies and private sector participants have coordinated efforts to meet health certification standards, align logistics, and ensure consistent supply levels required for export contracts.
Industry stakeholders say this coordinated approach has been necessary to rebuild trust with international buyers after years of absence from global poultry trade networks.
The resumption of exports is expected to generate foreign exchange earnings, sustain employment across the poultry value chain, and gradually re-establish Egypt’s role in regional agricultural trade as additional markets open up.
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