Corn could overtake wheat in Egypt’s imports for the first time

Egypt could import more corn than wheat for the first time in MY 2026/27. According to USDA’s August forecast, corn imports are expected to rise by 700 thsd tons to a record 13.2 mln tons, while wheat imports are projected to decline from 15.5 mln tons to 13 mln tons.

The rapid increase in corn demand is primarily driven by the expansion of the poultry and aquaculture sectors, which together account for more than 85% of domestic corn consumption. Since MY 2022/23, Egypt has more than doubled its corn imports, while domestic production covers only about one-third of the country’s needs.

Demand for feed grain continues to grow alongside livestock production. Egypt produced 1.92 billion broilers and 16 billion table eggs in 2025, compared with 1.4 billion birds and 14 billion eggs annually before 2023. Meanwhile, aquaculture now accounts for around 80% of the country’s fish production.

If corn imports reach 13.2 mln tons, Egypt will remain the world’s fifth-largest corn importer after Mexico, the EU, Vietnam and Japan. Brazil, Argentina and the United States are expected to be the main beneficiaries of stronger Egyptian demand. According to Kpler data, Brazil accounted for more than half of Egypt’s corn imports between October and June.

Argentina has also begun to regain its position in the Egyptian market after several years of declining shipments. During the first nine months of MY 2025/26, Egypt imported 1.8 mln tons of Argentine corn, already exceeding the volume shipped in any full marketing year since MY 2020/21.

Tags: Egypt, corn, wheat, imports