Egyptian cotton exports reach 7,081 tonnes in first five weeks of 2026/27 season, up 182%

Egyptian cotton exports reached 7,081 tonnes between 1 September and 4 October 2026, the opening weeks of the 2026/27 marketing season, according to a report by the Cotton Exporters Union reviewed by Egypt's Al-Mal newspaper. That compares with 2,511 tonnes shipped in the same period a year earlier, an increase of 182%.

The new figures extend the early-season data Egytex reported at the end of September, when the season had opened with 6,811 tonnes shipped, most of it to India. The latest report confirms that the pace of shipments has stayed well ahead of last year's slow start.

According to the report, the period was marked by stable cotton prices both on world markets and at home, after a run of fluctuations earlier in the year. Demand had already been rising in previous months even while prices moved up and down. Exporters had also faced higher freight bills when geopolitical tensions forced shipping lines to route vessels around Africa instead of through the main sea lanes, Al-Mal reported.

The union's data also give a final picture of the season that has just ended. From 1 September 2025 to 29 August 2026, Egypt exported 64,060 tonnes of cotton, compared with 39,216 tonnes in the previous season, and the value of shipments exceeded $205 million.

Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Alaa Farouk reaffirmed the ministry's commitment to continuous technical and advisory support for all partners in the cotton sector, describing Egyptian cotton as a distinguished international brand that supports the national economy, the newspaper said.

What it means for Egyptian exporters

Strong foreign buying confirms that the Egyptian cotton name still carries weight with spinners abroad, which helps every garment and home-textile exporter who sells on the "made with Egyptian cotton" story to EU and US buyers. At the same time, faster lint exports leave less fibre for local mills, so spinners, weavers and towel and bed-linen makers should watch auction prices closely in the coming weeks. Five weeks is still an early sample, and the season's final tally will depend on how demand and freight costs develop.