Exploring Africa’s poultry powerhouses – a spotlight on Egypt

In this 10th and final article in this series, Sebastiane Ebatamehi from The African Exponent gives a comprehensive overview of the country in 1st position in the top 10 poultry producing countries in Africa in 2025: Egypt.

Egypt’s poultry sector continued to stand out as the leading producer on the African continent in 2025, with production in recent years (2023/2024) estimated in the range of 1.7 and 1.8 million metric tonnes (mmt), and industry forecasts projecting further growth toward approximately 1.9 mmt by 2028. 

While the widely cited figure of approximately 2.6 million tonnes in 2024 suggests Egypt may already have closed much of that gap, multiple sources and national government projections agree on a consistent upward trajectory supported by long-standing investment, domestic demand, and expanding export capacities. These trends reflect not only production volume but also capacity improvements in broiler operations, hatcheries, and feed industries.

Poultry and egg consumption is rising

Consumption growth in Egypt has been among the fastest in Africa. Recent reports note that Egypt’s poultry meat consumption CAGR over the last decade is approximately +5.7%, outpacing many peer nations. The per capita consumption of chicken in Egypt is estimated at about 24 kg per person per year, placing it high among African countries (South Africa is higher, around 37 kg/person).

Furthermore, egg consumption is robust, and broiler production reportedly covers nearly 97% of national demand, according to ministry data. These demand‐side drivers create both opportunities and pressure for producers to maintain quality, price stability, and supply chain reliability.

Investments into the poultry sector

Regulatory and policy interventions have played a large role in shaping Egypt’s poultry landscape. In 2025, the Egyptian government launched a US$3.3 million poultry equipment assembly project in West Qantara, building equipment like battery cages and climate control systems locally to cut import dependence and reduce production costs.

This is particularly important as many producers have been squeezed by rising feed, vaccine costs, and currency volatility. 

Farm expansion plans in deserts

Additionally, the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation issued over 13,200 licenses in 2024 for livestock, poultry, and feed projects, including around 550 projects in desert expansion zones demonstrating a strategy to expand production beyond traditional areas.

Such licensing supports both large commercial farms and smaller breeders, and strengthens regulatory oversight and biosecurity. Measures to increase production in rural or desert zones, link finance (through national banks) to poultry projects, and ensure export‐compliant facilities are underway.

Poultry trade and employment

Egypt currently employs about 3.5 million people in its poultry and related sectors, making it a major source of rural and semi‐rural employment; its push for self-sufficiency in poultry and egg production reduces dependence on imports and strengthens food security.

Exports are rising once again, after previous disruptions from avian influenza, with certified facilities now approved to ship poultry products to over 20 countries across Asia, Africa, and the Arab world.

However, challenges remain: local producers are competing with frozen imports, which lowers prices and margins; power cuts, high temperature spikes, and feed supply issues add instability.

If Egypt can continue to scale its integrated operations and invest in local input industries (especially feed), and preserve its regulatory gains, it will not only consolidate its top producer status but also serve as a template for other African countries aiming to industrialise their poultry sectors.