The Ministry of Trade and Industry in Egypt has exempted exports of previously imported sugar or the import of its raw materials from a recently implemented export ban. This exemption is valid for three months and is part of a temporary admission system that allows the import of raw materials and intermediate goods for manufacturing or complementary operations, as long as they are re-exported. The US Department of Agriculture predicts that Egypt, which currently produces 90% of its local sugar needs, will achieve self-sufficiency this year due to the expansion of beet cultivation. The country's sugar reserve can last for three months, relying on supply from beet and cane crops during the harvest season.