Egyptian purchases of U.S. distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) reached 21,879 metric tons in the first quarter of calendar year 2011 – a major increase over the 12,348 tons imported at this time a year ago – and Dr. Hussein Soliman, U.S. Grains Council director in Egypt, believes imports could reach 350,000 metric tons by 2020.

This belief reflects the Council’s success on several fronts, from introducing DDGS use to multiple animal sectors to encouraging more U.S. grain and co-products suppliers to offer DDGS to their Egyptian customers.

As a result, DDGS imports have grown 42,901 metric tons in 2008, 79,415 tons in 2009, and 80,576 tons in 2010.

Egypt is currently the third-largest DDGS importing country in the Middle East with shipments both in containers and in bulk.

DDGS is now used in rations for poultry, dairy and beef cattle, and aquaculture (an emerging Egyptian industry). Council education efforts have been instrumental in increasing inclusion levels from 5 percent to as much as 8 percent in poultry, 3.5 percent to between 5 and 8 percent in aquaculture, and a 10 to 15 percent level to a 15 to 20 percent level in cattle.