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Egypt's vegetable oil imports recorded remarkable leaps and significant growth during the first four months of 2026 (January to April), maintaining their leading position among the country's most imported food commodities. This surge is driven by the growing needs of the domestic food industries and price fluctuations in global markets, according to the latest data from the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS).
Palm oil and its fractions maintained their position at the top of the list of most imported food commodities in Egypt. The value of palm oil imports reached approximately $579.9 million, compared to $484.8 million during the same period in 2025, marking an increase of 19.6%. This dominance is attributed to its extensive use in producing cooking oils, vegetable ghee, and various food products, in addition to several non-food industrial applications.
In a related context, imports of crude vegetable oils witnessed a major boom. The import value of crude vegetable oils (along with their oilseeds) reached approximately $369.3 million, compared to $94.3 million during the same period last year, achieving a massive increase of 291.8%. This reflects the high demand to secure sufficient raw materials for local refineries and ensure uninterrupted manufacturing processes.
Meanwhile, crude soybean oil recorded an unprecedented growth rate among food commodities. Its import bill surged by 449.8% (multiplying more than fourfold) to reach approximately $178.2 million, compared to $32.4 million during the same period last year. This highlights the increased reliance of local companies on soybean oil as a strategic ingredient for manufacturing table oils and vegetable ghee.
Experts and reports attribute these record increases to several factors, most notably the expansion of local industrial activities, limited domestic production of vegetable oils, and fluctuations in global prices and supply chains. In response, the government continues its efforts to implement plans aimed at encouraging investment in the vegetable oil production sector and expanding the cultivation of oilseed crops to enhance food security, increase self-sufficiency rates, and ease the pressure on foreign currency.
Source: Al-Gomhor News