Historically speaking, Egypt’s cotton is akin in fame to that of Swiss chocolate or French wine. Egyptian cotton remains a staple in Egyptian culture, a symbol of agricultural pride. National schools include the history and agricultural process of Egyptian cotton in their syllabus. A plethora of folkloric songs express the pride Egyptians have for the plant. However, the modern-day relevance of Egyptian cotton does not match its history. Egypt imported more raw cotton than it exported in 2020, according to data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity. This is a stark contrast to Egypt’s cotton production a decade ago when it was Africa’s number one raw cotton exporter at EGP 4.6 billion (USD USD 247 million). Despite the decrease in exports, Egypt was never a frontrunner in the global cotton industry for its trade volume. Countries such as the United States, Brazil, and India dominate in terms of cotton exports. Egypt’s cotton was a frontrunner due to its premium quality, a level of quality that was found nowhere else. Decades of decreased quality and production damaging the country’s reputation for quality cotton, begs the question of what caused its downfall…
Egyptian Cotton: The Rise, Fall, and Revival of Egypt’s White Gold
May 28, 2022
