Egypt leads global Shisha Tobacco exports in 2024

Egypt remained the world’s top exporter of shisha tobacco (maassel) in 2024, accounting for 32% of global exports with 27,000 tons valued at $127.4 million, the Food Export Council reported. Driven by steady demand and competitive pricing, Egypt’s maassel exports grew 15% in value year-on-year from 2023. Top buyers included Iraq ($32 million), Libya ($24 million), Syria ($14 million), Saudi Arabia ($13 million), and Kuwait ($7 million) — together making up 70% of total exports.

The Council attributed Egypt’s strong performance to low production costs, skilled labor, and diverse flavor offerings.