The salt industry division is working with relevant government bodies to develop the sector, improve operational efficiency and boost productivity, enhancing the competitiveness of Egyptian products in domestic and global markets, board member of the Food Industries Chamber at the Federation of Egyptian Industries Mohamed Saleh Bashanfar said.
In a statement on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, Bashanfar, who also heads the Miscellaneous Food Division and the Arab Cooperation Committee at the federation, said Egypt’s salt industry is a promising economic sector with strong production capabilities.
Annual output ranges between 3 million and 3.5 million tons, while domestic consumption does not exceed about 1.8 million tons, leaving a surplus that can be leveraged for industrial expansion and increased exports, he said.
He added that direct consumption of packaged salt for food use does not exceed 250,000 tons annually, opening the door for significant opportunities in packaging, refining and manufacturing to increase added value instead of exporting raw salt.
The division has intensified meetings with manufacturers in recent periods to regulate the market, improve production and distribution chains and reduce reliance on imported inputs, supporting production stability and competitiveness abroad, he added.
He said Egypt has a strong opportunity to become a regional hub for food industries, given advances in the food safety system, a diverse industrial base and growing regional demand for Egyptian products, particularly in Arab and African markets.
Bashanfar concluded by emphasizing that supporting small and medium-sized enterprises and developing their technical and operational capacities is a central pillar of the division’s strategy, helping boost the sector’s competitiveness and its contribution to the national economy in the coming period.
