Only about 5% of Egypt’s land is devoted to agricultural activities, as over 90% of the country’s land is desert. The entire country’s agriculture depends on the Nile River, a single river.
Egypt’s agricultural output includes a wide range of crops such as cotton, rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruits, and vegetables. The cultivation of high-quality cotton has long been a hallmark of Egyptian agriculture, contributing to the country’s textile industry.
Fun fact: Egypt is among the world’s largest wheat producers, as well as the world’s largest wheat importer due to its high consumption volume.
In 2022, the share of agriculture in Egypt’s GDP was 11%. Egypt’s agricultural exports increased by $239.2 million in 2023. Mango was the leading export commodity, with total sales of $96.8 million in 2023 (in 2022 – $69.8 million). Beans come next. Bean exports in 2023 reached $56.8 million (in 2022 – $13.5 million). Egypt’s main trading partners are countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.