Soybean · importers
Egypt is tenth of 96 at $2.3B in the oil seeds chapter, and oil seeds are a leading item in an import bill where food staples carry great weight.
| Market | HS 12 imports |
|---|---|
| China | $61.5B |
| Germany | $7.1B |
| Japan | $5.3B |
| Mexico | $4.9B |
| Netherlands | $4.2B |
Figures are for the whole of HS chapter 12 (oil seeds and oleaginous fruits); soybean is only part of it. Source: UN Comtrade, as reported by national authorities; latest available year per market.
Turkey is above at $2.8B and Italy below at $2.2B. Egypt’s 1.7% share of reported world imports is modest globally, but the chapter is 2.4% of its $94.7B total imports and ranks 12th among its import chapters. Only mineral fuels at $17.0B, machinery at $7.2B and cereals at $6.8B lead the bill.
Oil seeds are thus a serious food-security line for the country.
Imported beans and seeds provide cooking oil and animal feed for a large population, and purchasing tends to draw the attention of the state and the banking system. A seller should ask whether the buyer is a private crusher, a public body or a trader, since rules for public procurement differ from those for private trade.
Access to foreign currency is another practical issue in economies of this profile, and it deserves explicit discussion.
China, Saudi Arabia, the USA and the Russian Federation lead the overall source list, which covers all goods and does not show oil-seed origins. Confirm the current import, inspection and documentation requirements with the authorities and agree Incoterm, currency, payment instrument and discharge port in writing.
The $2.3B totals HS chapter 12 in full, meaning oil seeds and oleaginous fruits, so soybeans are only part of it. Since each country declares its own data, differences in reporting or onward trade can shift a market in the table.
To find named importers, read soybean-heading shipment data for consignees and weights; state buyers and private crushers show up differently, and knowing which you face matters. Then use this site’s free marketplace to make contact.
Tenth of 96 at $2.3B in 2024, a 1.7% share of reported world imports, behind Turkey at $2.8B.
It is 2.4% of $94.7B and ranks 12th, a high place that reflects the weight of staple foods.
Where dollars are scarce, the payment instrument and timing can decide whether a cargo moves. Discuss it early.
Search shipment data under the soybean heading and check whether consignees look like state or private companies.
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