Earlier this month, U.S. Grains Council (USGC) Director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Ramy H. Taieb traveled to Egypt for a series of events and meetings focused on increasing U.S. corn and corn co-product exports to the country. Taieb’s agenda included a visit to the World Fish Training Center, discussions with domestic importers and end-users and a roundtable with industry representatives and officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS) office in Cairo, Egypt.
Corn imports to Egypt are rebounding after the devaluation of the Egyptian pound in 2023 and nearly eight million metric tons of corn will arrive in the country this year. Corn co-products, like distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and corn gluten meal (CGM), are also an expanding market in Egypt and the Council is working to connect Egyptian importers to U.S. producers to increase U.S. market share.
“Demand in the Egyptian feed market is showing healthy recovery, and it will continue to be an important destination for U.S. agriculture,” Taieb said. “There is significant opportunity for aquaculture growth in addition to the existing traditional livestock industry, and the Council is making end-users aware of the benefits U.S. corn and its co-products bring to the table.”
Taieb visited the World Fish Training Center to finalize preparations for a Council-sponsored aquaculture training to take place in June for aqua feed producers from several African nations. The Council intends to continue using local training centers to support the growth of feed and livestock industries across the continent.
The Egyptian starch industry also represents an opportunity for U.S. corn producers. Taieb’s engagement efforts included discussions with wet millers centered around the Council’s regular studies regarding the inherent added value and economic benefits of U.S. corn.
The Council’s roundtable meeting was attended by 20 key Egyptian customers to discuss the prospects for the feed, poultry and starch industries. The event benefitted the Council’s plans for future programs to promote U.S. agriculture in the region such as the Council’s upcoming buyers and sellers conference in Mombasa, Kenya in June and Export Exchange, to be held in October in Austin, Texas.
USGC Regional Deputy Director for Europe and the Middle East Ana Ballesteros presented virtually on corn market outlooks, an overview of the advantages of U.S. origin products and the Council’s future plans in Egypt. The presentation laid the groundwork for a broader discussion regarding the opportunities and challenges the participants are facing in their industries.
“The roundtable event was the perfect way to further our programming and promotional strategies for Egypt and North Africa as a whole,” Taieb said. “Having a healthy dialogue between the Council, its partners at FAS and local agriculture industry stakeholders aligns everyone’s positions and needs to best suit both producers and consumers.”
Read more about the Council’s work in Africa here.
About The U.S. Grains Council
The U.S. Grains Council develops export markets for U.S. barley, corn, sorghum and related products including distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and ethanol. With full-time presence in 28 locations, the Council operates programs in more than 50 countries and the European Union. The Council believes exports are vital to global economic development and to U.S. agriculture’s profitability. Detailed information about the Council and its programs is online at www.grains.org.