The Egyptian fish industry faces fierce competition, particularly from neighboring countries in the northern Mediterranean, as Cairo prepares to make a strong comeback to the European market after years of stagnation, according to two officials from Al Radwan and Egyptalia companies, that have been operating in the sector for years, in an interview with Food & Climate.
Mohamed Osama, Export Manager, and Asmaa Abdeltawab, Executive Director at Al Radwan for Fish Refrigeration and Freezing and Egyptalia for Fresh and Frozen Fish, respectively, shed light on the industry in Egypt, its strengths and weaknesses, the challenges it faces, and the support needed to ensure it remains a source of profit for the companies and foreign currency for the country, drawing on their experience in the sector.
Food & Climate met with officials from Al Radwan and Egyptalia on the sidelines of the second round of the “Egypt Can by Export” initiative, launched by the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade under the auspices of the Prime Minister. The initiative was launched in Port Said, the coastal governorate located at the northern end of the Suez Canal on the Mediterranean Sea.
Officials from Al Radwan and Egyptalia, the two companies that export the majority of their production, identified several challenges that, in their view, require continued and increased government support. The most significant of these challenges are the rising costs of shipping and feed, in addition to subsidies from other Mediterranean countries for Egyptian fish exports. This negatively impacts the competitiveness of Egyptian fish prices. The following is an excerpt from that interview:
When did Egyptian fish exports to Europe cease?
Osama: They stopped in 2021, prompting relevant authorities to reorganize the sector. The National Food Safety Authority (NFSA) undertook a major role in the qualification and coordination procedures with the European Union, in cooperation with the General Authority for Fish Resources Development. Among the most prominent measures that contributed to regaining access to that market was the establishment of a traceability system that ensures the tracking of fish from the moment they are loaded onto the vessel until the final product reaches the European consumer.
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The NFSA imposed a wide range of requirements on facilities wishing to export, which led companies to invest heavily in upgrading their factories and improving their efficiency to meet European standards, even though the same regulations imposed on Egyptian factories were not applied to other countries.
The European partner conducted audits of 10-15 Egyptian factories, and six of them successfully passed the qualification process and resumed exporting.
Al Radwan and Egyptalia began exporting their products to the European Union in April 2025, under a new protocol and different administrative requirements and regulations than those in place before the export halt.
Although the upgrades were costly for the companies, they undertook these investments to maintain their operations and prepare for the return of the European market, which was achieved with the resumption of exports.
What are the main challenges?
Osama: The high cost of shipping is one of the most significant challenges facing Egyptian fresh fish exports to Europe. Therefore, air freight support is needed to enable Egyptian companies to compete more effectively.
Fresh fish cannot be easily transported by ship due to the lack of suitable direct shipping routes. Meanwhile, competing countries like Greece and Turkey have a geographically closer location to the European market, giving them an advantage in terms of cost and speed of delivery.
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Tunisia and Morocco also enjoy an additional advantage: the existence of maritime shipping lines and export support programs, which help their companies access European markets at a lower cost and obtain financing and reimbursements from export support programs more quickly.
Competition in the marine fish market is concentrated between Egypt on one side and Tunisia and Morocco on the other, while Egypt competes in farmed fish with Turkey and Greece.
Which countries do Al Radwan and Egyptalia export to?
Abdeltawab: We export to a number of markets, including the United States, China, and the European Union. Each market has its own standards and procedures. When exporting to Arab countries, these procedures fall under the jurisdiction of the General Authority for Fish Resources Development, while in the case of the European Union, these regulations are under the jurisdiction of the Food Safety Authority.
Increasing exports remains in the interest of both companies and the state, because export revenues provide foreign currency. “Therefore, it is important for the state to continue removing obstacles facing exporters, including the cost of air freight.”
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Air freight has resolved the crisis of Egyptian fish access to various markets. The quality of Egyptian fish is also a key competitive advantage, with some European importers returning to Egyptian products after trying cheaper alternatives from other countries.
Is fish feed available?
Osama: Companies incur additional expenses to export. While currency fluctuations have sometimes been advantageous, they have also led to higher product prices, weakening competitiveness.
The high cost of feed is one of the biggest problems impacting the fish industry in Egypt, directly affecting farmed fish and, consequently, the competitiveness of Egyptian products both domestically and internationally.
Therefore, it is essential to increase attention to the feed industry and work to reduce its costs, whether through industry support or by providing incentives to manufacturers, especially since some feed ingredients are imported. “Addressing the feed problem will not only benefit the fish sector but will also have repercussions for poultry and livestock production”.
What percentage of the supply comes from marine fish?
Osama: The supply of previously abundant marine fish varieties in the Egyptian market, such as red mullet, grouper, and sea bream, is declining, leading to price increases, especially with rising demand.
Supporting fish farming can help increase the supply of fish and reduce the pressures driving up prices, and this should start with feed.
Abdeltawab: It is essential to continue monitoring campaigns to combat the hoarding of goods, as some traders may be holding onto quantities of products in anticipation of price increases before releasing them again at higher prices.
Osama: Egyptian produce has advantages, including quality and distinctive taste. Egypt is also not far from European markets compared to other markets, but the high cost of shipping and production diminishes these advantages.