In 2024, Egypt Ranked First in Global Water Pipe Exports, With The Middle East And North Africa Being Its Main Markets.

According to Daily News Egypt on July 20th, in 2024, Egypt maintained its position as the world's largest exporter of shisha tobacco (maassel), accounting for 32% of the global export volume, with a total export value of 127.4 million US dollars and an export quantity of 27,000 tons.
According to the Food Export Committee, in recent years, Egypt's maassel exports have shown a steady growth trend. From 2020 to 2024, the annual growth rate of its export value was 7%, and the annual growth rate of its export volume was 4%. Only from 2023 to 2024, its export value increased by 15% year-on-year, highlighting the continuously rising demand for this product in regional and international markets.
The committee reported that in 2024, Iraq became the largest market for Egypt's maassel, importing 32 million US dollars worth of shisha tobacco, accounting for 25% of Egypt's total export value. Libya followed closely, with an import value of 24 million US dollars (19%), Syria imported 14 million US dollars (11%), Saudi Arabia imported 13 million US dollars (10%), and Kuwait imported approximately 7 million US dollars (5%).
These five countries accounted for approximately 70% of Egypt's total maassel export volume last year, highlighting Egypt's strong presence and competitiveness in key regional markets.
The Food Export Committee emphasized that Egypt's continued strong performance reflects its strong local production capacity, competitive pricing, and the diverse flavors offered by Egyptian producers. These factors, along with relatively low production costs, skilled labor, and institutional support, have enabled Egypt's maassel to maintain a leading position in established and emerging markets.
The committee also pointed out that the growing regional demand and the exploration of new export destinations have driven this upward trend, further consolidating Egypt's position as a global hub for shisha tobacco exports.