CAIRO, EGYPT — With an increase in local crush capacity, Egypt is expected to import more soybeans in 2022-23, according to a report from the US Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

The country is expected to import 4 million tonnes of soybeans, an increase of 400,000 tonnes from the previous market year.

Egypt’s domestic crush capacity in 2022-23 will reach about 12,121 tpd, up from 11,363 tpd in 2021-22. The increase in domestic crush capacity is attributable to the establishment of new crushing facilities. Soybean crush operations in Egypt are dominated by two companies with more than 80% of the total volume: SOYVEN and the Alex Seeds Co.

Between 2016-17 and 2020-21, Egypt has now imported 17.31 million tonnes of soybeans. Main suppliers include the United States, Argentina, Ukraine, Uruguay, Brazil and Paraguay.

US-origin soybean exports to Egypt have risen dramatically in that time, accounting for 72% of the total soybeans exported to Egypt.

From October 2021 to January 2022, Egypt already has imported 1.81 million tonnes of soybeans.