Egypt’s Medicinal & Aromatic Plant Exports Reach USD 852 Million

Exports of medicinal and aromatic plants and related products reached USD 852 million in 2025, according to Agriculture Minister Alaa Farouk.

Farouk announced the figure at the opening of the fifth Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Festival at the Agricultural Museum in Dokki, which brought together more than 80 farmers, processors, exporters and investors.

Around 80,000 feddans are currently used to cultivate medicinal and aromatic crops including marjoram, basil, mint, anise, chamomile, fennel, coriander, hibiscus and jasmine, alongside products such as aromatic oils and extracts.

The ministry said exports of dried herbs, extracts and oils reached USD 852 million in 2025, compared with around USD 400 million in previous years, although no specific comparison period was given. Farouk added that around 85% of the output of some crops in dried-herb form is exported.

The Agriculture Ministry is also pushing for more domestic processing in areas including drying, extraction, distillation, essential oils and other plant-based products with higher added value. Current work includes improving farming practices, product quality and safety, water-use efficiency, and the traceability and certification systems required by international markets.