Food Export Council: Egypt’s Sweet Biscuit Exports Jumped 117% to $151 Million in 2025
The Food Export Council (FEC) organized a specialized webinar titled "Opportunities for Exporting Biscuits to International Markets," detailing the robust global trade dynamics of sweet biscuits (under HS Code 190531) and outlining Egypt's strengthening competitive position.
The session revealed that Egypt’s exports of sweet biscuits recorded a massive 117% year-on-year growth in 2025, reaching $151 million across 41,000 tons. This rapid expansion positioned Egypt as the 18th largest global exporter of sweet biscuits last year, capturing a 1.1% share of global exports.
The Council emphasized that the sector's growth is heavily driven by Egypt’s structural manufacturing advantages, including competitive production costs, technology adoption, and significant investments by both national champions and multinational corporations utilizing Egypt as a regional manufacturing hub.
Export Markets Breakdown (2025)
The Arab Gulf heavily dominates the export map, with the top five markets accounting for 57% ($86 million) of Egypt’s total sweet biscuit exports.
The table below breaks down the top destinations for Egyptian sweet biscuits in 2025:
RankExport DestinationExport Value (2025)Market ShareYoY Growth (vs. 2024)
1Saudi Arabia$46 Million30%+186%
2United Arab Emirates$15 Million10%+326%
3United Kingdom$12 Million8%+2104%
4Kuwait$7 Million5%+272%
5Australia$6 Million4%+19%
Note: Iraq, Palestine, Jordan, Uzbekistan, and Libya also recorded substantial double- or triple-digit percentage growth in 2025.
First Half 2026: Geopolitical Headwinds Slow Momentum
Despite the record-breaking performance in 2025, export momentum slowed during the first half of 2026. From January to June 2026, export values declined by 21% to $42 million, down from $54 million in H1 2025. Export volumes similarly contracted from 17,000 tons to 15,000 tons.
The FEC attributed this contraction to a high comparative base effect from H1 2025 (which saw a 75% YoY jump), compounded by severe geopolitical tensions, disrupted maritime trade routes, and soaring land freight costs. Because 45% of these exports are concentrated in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Kuwait, regional logistics bottlenecks and shifting consumer spending priorities during crises disproportionately impacted trade flows.
Global Market Landscape and Future Strategy
Globally, the import market for sweet biscuits grew to $13.4 billion in 2025 (up 11% YoY), representing 3.6 million tons. The United States remains the absolute largest importer worldwide, absorbing nearly $2.5 billion (19% of global imports).
Strategic Roadmap (2026–2030):
The Council estimates Egypt's total untapped export potential in this sector at $97 million through 2030. To capture this value, the FEC outlined a multi-tiered strategy:
Market Diversification: Reducing over-reliance on the Gulf by aggressively targeting massive consumer markets like the United States and China.
European Expansion: Working closely with the National Food Safety Authority (NFSA) to overcome technical barriers and stringent EU health requirements (especially concerning dairy and egg ingredients) to unlock European markets.
Capacity Building: Launching training programs from August 25 to September 15 covering EU labeling compliance, logistics management, and successful exhibition participation in preparation for SIAL Paris.
Broadening the Exporter Base: Currently, just 9 companies account for 90% ($137 million) of total exports. Empowering the remaining 163 smaller registered exporters is critical for sustainable sector growth.