Egypt achieves self-sufficiency of sugar within 3 years: Delta Sugar

CAIRO – 24 February 2021: Egypt has achieved a quantum leap and leap in sugar production, Chairman of the Delta Sugar Company Ahmed Abu Al-Yazid said.

Abu Al-Yazid added during a TV interview that Egypt's current sugar production amounts to 2.7 million tons.

“Egypt's sugar production suffices 90 percent of the country's need, and it is expected to achieve self-sufficiency within 3 years in light of the development of sugar factories,” he added.

The Chairman of the Delta Sugar Company indicated that the Egypt Company for the Delta entered into the field of agricultural feed and fertilizers.

In January, Minister of Supply and Internal Trade, Ali al-Moselhy, met with the heads of sugar production companies, where they reviewed the areas planted with sugar crops and the expected production results for the 2021 season.

According to a supply statement, the cultivated areas for the current season of cane amounted to about 332,000 feddans of cane, and the Sugar and Integrated Industries Company is expected to produce about one million tons of white sugar.

While the cultivated areas in 2020 of the beet crop reached 640,000 feddans, with an increase of 119,000 feddans compared to 2019. It is expected that about 1.7 million tons of sugar beet will be produced this season.

Moselhy stressed that the investments that have been pumped into the sugar sector recently indicate the importance and attractiveness of this vital sector and encourage the state to settle real investments based on an integrated production process that starts with land reclamation, agriculture, production and distribution, as well as achieving self-sufficiency, as well as promising export opportunities for Egyptian sugar.

He said that the government is striving to preserve the capabilities of this national industry and to take all means to overcome all challenges facing this industry.

In September 2020, Minister of Industry and Trade Nevine Gamea issued a decree suspending white sugar imports for another three months.

The decree exempts quantities that enter in drug manufacturing and that are approved by the Ministry of Health and Population. For crude sugar imports, only shipments approved by both the ministry and the Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade are allowed in the country.

The decision is aimed at protecting the national industry given sugar prices have declined globally after oil prices had been sent to dive. Local producers are expected to sell their stocks standing at 1.4 million over more than six months.