Egypt: Determinants of Corn Import Demand

Corn imports are likely to rise in Egypt because of production constraints imposed by limited arable land. Competition for Egypt's corn import market has increased in recent years and the types of export promotion programs, particularly prices, will determine market shares. Credit is an important factor in import decisions. The United States is the largest supplier of corn with a market share of 75 to 90 percent during the last decade. Other suppliers are Argentina and, more recently, East European countries. Argentine prices have been lower than U.S. prices for comparable quality corn. East European countries are aggressively seeking to increase their shares by providing cheaper corn. If the United States is to maintain its share of Egyptian imports, then corn exports will need to be competitively priced and assisted by an aggressive program of promotion and credit. Providing cleaner corn is unlikely to change market shares