A Closer Look at Egypt’s Tomato Market

Updated 1/12/2025 10:38:00 AM

After a period of relative stability, the head of the Farmers’ Union in Egypt said that tomato prices would double again. This increase is expected to occur as the harvest season is coming to an end, with Ramadan approaching, leading demand to surge. During 2024, the tomato price per kilogram hiked from EGP 5 in January to EGP 25 by November.

In this Factsheet, we will know more about the inflation of tomato prices over the past year, Egypt’s position as a global producer and exporter, and the economic importance of tomato crops for the country.

Egyptian tomatoes are favored for their rich flavor, juicy texture, and vibrant colors. They are available in a diverse array of shapes and sizes, each offering a unique taste and texture. Among the most popular varieties are beefsteak, cherry, and roma tomatoes.
The total tomato cultivation area in Egypt reached 394,800 feddans in 2022/2023, marking a 5.2% increase from 375,300 feddans in 2021/2022. Tomato crops account for around 20% of Egypt’s total vegetable cultivation area.
Tomato production in Egypt increased by 11.7% year-on-year (YoY) and reached 7.1 million tons in 2022/2023, compared to 6.4 million tons in 2021/2022. This represented around 28% of Egypt’s total vegetable production.
In the 2022/2023 season, Nubaria City was the largest tomato-producing location in Egypt, with 1.5 million tons, making up 20.6% of the country’s total production. Sharkia governorate came in second spot with 656,661 tons, while Alexandria ranked third with 539,510 tons.
Globally, Egypt is known as a major tomato producer; it ranked as the 5 ^th largest tomato producer in the world in 2022. Egypt’s share of the global tomato production was 2.4%.
In 2023, Egypt was the world’s 18th largest exporter of tomatoes, with a market share of 0.4%. Tomato exports totaled $53.2 million, reflecting a 62% YoY increase and accounting for 14% of Egypt’s total vegetable exports.
Egypt’s exports accessed 39 international markets in 2023. Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Russia were the key importing markets from Egypt, with imports equivalent to $25.1 million, $6.7 million, and $6 million, respectively.
Egypt is also a star in exporting processed tomatoes with $91.7 million worth of exports in 2023. Egypt is the world’s 11th largest exporter of processed tomatoes. The country’s key importers are Poland, Morocco, and Portugal.

By: Amina Hussein