Egypt's building materials exports are experiencing a remarkable surge, with a 36% increase in 2025, reaching a value of $14.9 billion. This growth is a testament to the country's strategic focus on diversifying its export markets and enhancing the global competitiveness of its industries. The key driver behind this success is the Export Development Fund's (EDF) comprehensive strategy, which aims to expand Egypt's export base and increase the value-added content of its products.
The building materials, refractories, and metallurgical industries sector is a strategic export pillar for Egypt, leveraging its strong industrial base, abundant raw materials, and growing international demand. This sector's performance is particularly impressive, with exports rising to $14.875 billion in 2025 from $10.872 billion in 2024, a 36% year-on-year increase. This growth is a significant contribution to Egypt's non-oil exports, accounting for approximately 30% of the total in 2025.
The Export Council for Building Materials, Refractory & Metallurgy Industries (ECBM) has been instrumental in this success. The council, chaired by Hatem El Nawawy, CEO of the Export Development Fund and the General Organization for Export and Import Control (GOEIC), and Ahmed Hafez, has been working closely with the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade to support exporters and expand their presence in overseas markets. The ECBM's focus on expanding local manufacturing, maximizing the use of Egypt's natural resources, and enhancing support for participation in international trade exhibitions has been crucial in sustaining export growth.
The consultations between the EDF and the 12 export councils have been instrumental in shaping the government's export priorities and policy agenda. The meetings have covered a wide range of sectors, including engineering industries, agricultural crops, home textiles, textiles, food industries, ready-made garments, medical industries, chemicals and fertilizers, printing and packaging, leather, furniture, and building materials. The discussions have highlighted the importance of diversifying export destinations, opening new international markets, and maximizing the benefits of Egypt's trade agreements.
The building materials sector's success is a result of its ability to adapt to the changing global market dynamics. The sector's focus on deeper local manufacturing, greater value-added production, and enhanced competitiveness has been crucial in supporting expansion into regional and international markets, particularly promising markets in Africa and Europe. The utilization of idle production capacity and surplus output at Egyptian factories by directing more production towards export markets has also been a significant factor in the sector's growth.
In conclusion, Egypt's building materials exports are a shining example of the country's strategic focus on diversifying its export markets and enhancing the global competitiveness of its industries. The success of the building materials sector is a testament to the effectiveness of the Export Development Fund's strategy and the commitment of the Export Council to support exporters and expand their presence in overseas markets. As Egypt continues to accelerate non-oil export growth and strengthen the competitiveness of domestic industries in international markets, the building materials sector is poised to play a significant role in the country's economic development.
