Egypt targets sugar self-sufficiency by 2026 amid expansion in beet cultivation, processing capacity 

EGYPT – Egypt is on track to achieve full self-sufficiency in sugar by 2026, according to infographics released by the Cabinet’s Media Centre.  

This milestone is supported by increased sugar crop cultivation and major investments in the country’s sugar industry infrastructure. 

Data show that sugar beet cultivation has surged by 25%, rising from 600,000 feddans in the 2023/2024 season to 750,000 feddans in 2024/2025. This expansion is expected to yield 2.5 million tons of sugar, up from 1.5 million tons the previous year.  

For the first time in the nation’s history, sugar production is projected to reach 2.6 million tons in 2025, with a further increase to 2.9 million tons anticipated by 2026. 

As domestic production grows, Egypt’s dependency on imports is diminishing. Raw sugar imports declined by 54.5% in the first quarter of 2025, falling to US$111.1 million from US$244.4 million during the same period in 2024.  

By March 2025, the country had achieved 81% self-sufficiency in sugar, with expectations that imports will no longer be necessary by early 2026. The government currently holds subsidized sugar reserves sufficient to meet national demand for 13 months. 

To support this trajectory, the country has strengthened its industrial base. Egypt now hosts eight major sugar beet processing facilities, including Canal Sugar, the world’s largest single-line beet sugar factory, with a current output of 350,000 tons and a planned increase to 750,000 tons by 2026.  

Other facilities include the El Sharqiya plant with a capacity of 240,000 tons and the upgraded Delta Sugar factory, now processing 21,000 tons of beet per day. 

Efforts are also underway to improve sugarcane productivity. New seedling production stations, such as Wadi El-Saaida and Kom Ombo, are set to deliver 160 million and 30 million seedlings per season, respectively. 

To incentivize cultivation, the government has allocated EGP 16 billion for sugarcane procurement in 2025 and EGP 7 billion for industrial operations. Reference prices are fixed at EGP 2,500 per ton for sugarcane and EGP 2,400 per ton for sugar beet. Additional bonuses reward early beet harvests and high-yield cane production.

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