A field tour by Al Manassa of 10 outlets in Cairo and Giza found that several state-run and private retailers raised sugar prices to 32 Egyptian pounds per kilogram, up from a peak of 28 pounds last month, even as the Supply Ministry continues to deny any increases.
At the beginning of this month, sugar prices rose by about 2,000 pounds per ton, bringing its price for the final consumer to between 26,000 and 28,000 pounds.
These increases coincide with a government decision taken in January that allowed the export of sugar abroad for the first time in nearly three years. A measure the Supply Ministry says does not affect local prices.
Hassan Elfendi, head of the Sugar Division at the Federation of Egyptian Industries, attributed the government’s decision to allow sugar exports again to its desire to absorb a domestic surplus approaching 1 million tons, which caused prices to fall and inflicted noticeable losses on manufacturers.
Al Manassa’s tour of consumer outlets affiliated with the Supply Ministry found the price reaching 28 pounds per kilogram, while the price reached 30 pounds per kilogram at “Aman” outlets affiliated with the Interior Ministry.
At outlets of armed-forces-affiliated Mostaqbal Misr, the price per kilogram held steady at 27 pounds. Prices among five traders and private shops ranged between 29 and 32 pounds, depending on the area. Shop owners told Al Manassa this was due to an increase in wholesale prices of between 2,000 and 4,000 pounds per ton.
In a statement by the Supply Ministry, Salah Fathy, managing director and CEO of the Sugar and Integrated Industries Company, affiliated with the Holding Company for Food Industries, said sugar prices have not seen any increases during the current period. He said the “factory gates” price per ton ranges between 22,000 and 23,000 pounds, according to the pricing mechanisms in place, without approving any new increases.
Shop owners denied that, unanimously saying the wholesale price per kilogram of sugar rose to between 27 and 29 pounds, up from 24 to 26 pounds before the government allowed the product to be exported.
The sugar export ban was due to remain in effect until next March, according to a decision by Investment and Foreign Trade Minister Hassan El-Khatib in October, which affirmed the continuation of the export ban for another six months starting in October.
The decision, renewed since 2023, bans the export of all types of sugar, except for quantities surplus to the needs of the local market, as estimated by the Supply Ministry, provided the Investment and Foreign Trade Ministry approves. This exception allowed the government to decide to export the surplus.
Egypt consumes 3.2 million tons of sugar annually. Prices at traders have surged since 2024 amid difficulties importing to bridge the gap in local production.
