Egypt launches dried-egg exports to Middle East

Egypt completed its first export shipment of dried egg products to Jordan, marking a step in efforts to expand poultry exports across the Middle East. Although initial volumes are modest, industry representatives called the development an important milestone amid growing oversupply.

The first shipment, about 30 tonnes of dried egg products, is now on its way to Jordan, said Dr Tharwat El‑Zeiny, VP of the Poultry Producers Union, speaking to local publication Sada El‑Balad. A second shipment is being prepared for the UAE, and negotiations are underway to sell to Iraq, he added.

Regional demand for dried egg products has risen steadily, driven mainly by the confectionery and food‑processing industries, where powdered egg is widely used as an ingredient.

El‑Zeiny noted that Egypt already exports a broad range of poultry products, including hatching eggs and chicks, which he said demonstrates the domestic industry’s quality and safety standards.

Export growth is increasingly important for Egyptian producers as companies seek foreign‑currency revenue and ways to ease domestic oversupply. “This helps absorb surplus production and supports market balance,” El‑Zeiny said.

Oversupply pushes farmers to seek export opportunities

The launch of dried‑egg exports is not the only notable development this year. In April, Egypt shipped its first poultry consignment to Qatar in nearly 2 decades, according to the General Union of Poultry Producers.

Egypt resumed poultry exports 3 years ago after recovering from prolonged avian influenza outbreaks, but several regional markets remained closed until recently. “The sector is witnessing a surplus this year, which has driven us to expand exports to maintain market stability,” said Mahmoud El‑Anany, head of the union. He added that companies are negotiating new supply contracts with buyers in Qatar and Kuwait.

Industry officials earlier warned of a domestic oversupply equivalent to 15-20% of annual production. Egypt produces about 2.4 million tonnes of chicken meat and 16.6 billion eggs annually, potentially leaving an excess of up to 120,000 tonnes of chicken meat and billions of eggs on the domestic market.