Egypt targets $3bn in new fertilizer investments, production to rise by up to 3 million tonnes annually

Egypt is targeting around $3bn in new investments in the fertilizer industry, with five major projects expected to increase domestic production by between 2 million and 3 million tonnes annually over the next three years, according to Mostafa Sherif El-Gabaly, Deputy Chairperson of the Chemical and Fertilizers Export Council.

El-Gabaly made the remarks during the opening of the 36th edition of the Sahara International for Agricultural Exhibition, which brought together around 550 companies from around the world, alongside government officials, diplomats, and representatives of the agricultural sector.

He said the fertilizer industry is one of Egypt’s strategic industries, with nearly a century of experience and significant production and export capabilities.

Egyptian fertilizer manufacturers produce a wide range of products, including phosphate, nitrogen, and potash fertilizers, as well as specialised and compound fertilizers, supporting local agricultural production and reducing reliance on imported agricultural inputs.

According to El-Gabaly, fertilizers rank as Egypt’s second-largest export product after gold and account for around 7% of the country’s non-oil exports. Egyptian fertilizers are currently exported to more than 100 countries, reflecting the sector’s expanding international presence.

He said the industry is entering a new phase of investment expansion, with five major fertilizer projects currently under development involving local and international investors.

The projects are attracting investments from China and India, alongside Egyptian investors, with total targeted investments estimated at around $3bn.

The new projects are expected to increase Egypt’s fertilizer production by between 2 million and 3 million tonnes annually over the next three years, El-Gabaly said.

He noted that the additional output will initially be directed towards meeting the needs of domestic agricultural and development projects, in line with the government’s food security objectives. Any surplus production will then be allocated to export markets, supporting the growth of fertilizer exports and opening up new international markets.

El-Gabaly also highlighted the Sahara International for Agricultural Exhibition as an important platform for connecting Egyptian companies with international buyers and expanding export opportunities.

The Chemical and Fertilizers Export Council brought 21 international buyers from 15 countries to the exhibition, including Iraq, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, the UAE, Tunisia, Ghana, Uganda, Algeria, Kuwait, and Kenya.

The expansion of fertilizer production is expected to support higher industrial value added and contribute to Egypt’s broader target of increasing national exports to $100bn by 2030, El-Gabaly concluded.