Egyptian Yeast Exports Reach $200 Million: Impressive, Egypt

Egyptian yeast exports recorded a remarkable growth during the first nine months of 2025, reaching $143 million, marking a 28% increase compared to the same period last year. This surge highlights the profound shift taking place within the food industries sector related to bakeries, pastries, and high-value food industries. Egypt is rapidly expanding its localization of yeast production, driven by substantial Chinese investments led by Angel Yeast Egypt in Beni Suef, as well as the entry of the French giant Lesaffre (under the famous brand Saf-Instant) with new expansions in Nobaria, positioning Egypt to become one of the largest yeast production bases in the world in the coming years.

Angel Yeast Egypt leads the scene, having increased its production capacity to around 60,000 tons annually, with cumulative investments reaching $650 million and a plan to reach $1 billion by 2035. The company exports between 85% to 90% of its production to approximately 170 countries worldwide, making Egyptian yeast an essential ingredient in commercial bakery chains in the Middle East and Africa, including global chains like Cinnabon, which relies on Egyptian yeast for its production lines in the region.

With the operation of new expansions worth $120 million, the company expects to add new capacities for export markets, enhancing Egypt’s ability to strengthen its share in one of the fastest-growing food industries in the world. In January 2025, the Egyptian Cabinet officially approved the establishment and operation of a large factory by Lesaffre – the parent company of Saf-Instant – on an area of approximately 44,000 square meters in the new city of Nobaria in Beheira Governorate, in addition to the existing factory in the same city.

The project aims to produce 22,600 tons annually of instant dry yeast for bakeries and food industries, in two consecutive phases: the first phase producing 11,300 tons annually, scheduled to start operating in August 2026, and the second phase producing another 11,300 tons annually, set to begin operations in August 2028.