Egypt Reaches Full Self-Sufficiency in Fresh Milk Production
Domestic output rose to 7 million tons in 2026, up 8% from last year.
Egypt has achieved full self-sufficiency in fresh milk production, with domestic output reaching around 7 million tons in 2026, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation.
The figure marks an increase from approximately 6.5 million tons recorded last year, representing annual growth of about 8%. According to Tarek Suleiman, head of the ministry's Animal and Poultry Wealth Development Sector, the increase has been driven by genetic improvement programmes aimed at enhancing local breeds and crossbreeding them with high-yield dairy breeds.
The programme focuses on preserving the disease resistance and climate adaptability of local livestock while incorporating traits from foreign breeds to improve productivity and increase returns for breeders. Suleiman said the initiative has significantly raised milk yields, with average daily production per dairy cow reaching about 20 kilograms, compared with roughly 7 kilograms previously.
Breed development and genetic improvement programmes are continuing as part of broader efforts to strengthen the livestock sector, support sustainability and reduce reliance on imported dairy products.
