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How to Import Corn or Edible Oil to Egypt Legally in 2025 — A Complete Guide

by Generic H2 (Embedded) on August 15, 2025

How to Import Corn or Edible Oil to Egypt Legally in 2025 — A Complete Guide
🇪🇬 1. Egypt’s Agro Import Environment — 2025 Overview

Egypt is projected to import around 1.8 million tonnes of edible oil (soybean, sunflower, palm) in the 2024/25 marketing year, with volumes expected to grow further in 2025/26.
Grain imports remain critical: wheat imports are stable at approximately 13 MMT, while corn imports are forecast to rise to 8.7 MMT in MY 2025/26, up from around 8 MMT in the previous year.

📄 2. Registration & Licensing Requirements

To import corn or edible oil into Egypt legally in 2025, businesses must:

Register a company in Egypt under local commercial law.

Obtain an Import–Export Licence (IEC) from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade.

Register as a private importer/exporter on the Egyptian Commodity Exchange — soon to be a mandatory platform for trading strategic goods, including grains and edible oils.

Comply with the Central Administration of Plant Quarantine (CAPQ) for phytosanitary inspections and import permits.

🌽 3. Tariffs & Customs for Corn and Edible Oils

Corn and soybeans — Duty-free upon import.

Soybean meal, DDGS, corn gluten meal — 5% import duty.

Bulk refined or crude sunflower/soybean oils — 2% import duty.

Palm oil — Often duty-free, depending on classification.

VAT — Crude oils may be exempt or taxed at a reduced rate; refined oils may be subject to the standard ~14% VAT.

🚢 4. Regulations & Import Logistics

All imports must comply with Egypt’s foreign trade policy.

Private traders must register on the national commodity exchange (mandatory for most bulk imports).

CAPQ requires proper documentation and inspections for plant-based imports such as grains, oilseeds, and related products.

Egypt is expanding edible oil storage at Alexandria Port from ~72,000 t to ~150,000 t to handle growing import volumes and stabilize supply.

✅ 5. Key Import Volumes & Suppliers — 2025

Jan–Jun 2025: Egypt imported ~4.9 MMT wheat, ~4.2 MMT yellow corn, and ~2.2 MMT soybeans despite regional supply disruptions.

Corn demand — Driven largely by the poultry and feed sectors; projected consumption at 15.8 MMT in MY 2025/26.

Main suppliers: U.S., Brazil, and Ukraine for corn; Ukraine, Russia, and Turkey for soybean and sunflower oil.

🔍 6. Compliance & Documentation to Focus On

Phytosanitary certificate from the exporting country, verified by CAPQ.

Certificate of origin and quality analysis (moisture, purity, oil content).

Halal certification where required.

Letters of credit (LCs) or documented FX contracts for government compliance and foreign exchange clearance.

📋 7. Summary — Egypt’s 2025 Import Requirements

Yellow Corn — Requires company registration, IEC, and CAPQ clearance. Duty-free import; mandatory phytosanitary inspection.

Soybean/Sunflower Oil — Requires IEC and Commodity Exchange registration. 2% duty for bulk oil; quality certification; VAT applies depending on classification.

Soybean Meal, DDGS, CGM — Requires IEC and commodity registry entry. 5% duty; feed-specific quality testing.

🧠 Why This Matters for Exporters & Buyers

Egypt is one of the world’s largest importers of edible oils and feed grains in 2025. Understanding legal procedures, tariff structures, and registration requirements is critical for exporters looking to compete effectively.
The Agrix platform can:

Connect verified exporters from Ukraine, Brazil, India, and other origins with Egyptian buyers.

Support all documentation and CAPQ approval processes.

Facilitate trade via Egypt’s new commodity exchange for smoother, compliant transactions.

About This Blog Post

This blog post is published by Generic H2 (Embedded), an active participant on our trading platform. The content reflects company insights, product knowledge, or market trends relevant to their industry. Articles like this one help boost SEO visibility and offer valuable information for future visitors and potential partners.