Amid the rapid changes taking place in global and local financial markets and production sectors, Egypt’s poultry industry is navigating a critical phase marked by both challenges and promising investment opportunities.
Despite the significant decline in egg and poultry prices in the domestic market due to oversupply relative to high production costs, export activity has begun creating new opportunities in Gulf markets, particularly in Kuwait.

According to Engineer Samah Zaki, Head of the Exporters Division at the Cairo Chamber of Commerce, Egyptian exports have successfully maintained their market position thanks to their quality and strong production capacity. This has been achieved despite pressures resulting from the slowdown in global trade and changes in international marketing structures, which can sometimes hinder progress toward achieving planned export targets.

Competitive Advantages and Promising Opportunities in Gulf Markets
In an interview with Al-Ahram Gate, Zaki stated that Egypt possesses several strategic advantages that support its strong presence in Middle Eastern markets.
Among the most important advantages are:
Geographic Proximity
Egypt’s close geographic location to Gulf countries allows for the rapid transportation of products via trucks and ferries, either overland through Jordan or by sea through Egyptian ports such as Safaga and Nuweiba. This significantly reduces shipping times and costs compared to international competitors.
Lower Production Costs
Energy and labor costs in Egypt continue to provide a competitive advantage for local producers compared with many other countries.
Billion-Pound Investments
Egypt’s poultry sector is supported by substantial investments worth billions of Egyptian pounds. These investments strengthen the industry's ability to meet domestic demand while also supplying additional volumes for export markets.
Intense Competition and the Shift Toward Value-Added Products
Zaki noted that whole and frozen Egyptian poultry products face extremely strong competition in international and Gulf markets from major global exporters, particularly Brazil, which dominates the market by a considerable margin, followed by France.
To overcome this challenge and maintain production continuity without suffering losses from the current market surplus, the Head of the Exporters Division believes that the optimal solution lies in shifting toward processed poultry products and creating added value rather than exporting poultry in its primary form.
This strategy is supported by the success of several Egyptian companies that have already developed expertise in sorting, processing, and adding value to agricultural and food products, achieving tangible success in international markets.
Conclusion
While Egypt's poultry industry continues to face domestic challenges related to oversupply and production costs, expanding exports to Gulf markets offers a valuable growth opportunity. Moving toward value-added poultry products may strengthen competitiveness, improve profitability, and support the long-term sustainability of the sector.
Source: Gate.Ahram.org.eg