Egypt sets out plan to triple garment exports in five years

Egypt’s clothing trade body has devised a five-year plan that aims to triple ready-made garment exports to at least $12 billion.

The Apparel Export Council of Egypt (AECE) is banking on access to new markets and a steady rise in exports to the US and Europe.

Exports are expected to hit $4.4 billion this year – an increase of 22 percent or nearly $1 billion on 2025 – according to council chairman Fadil Marzouk.

In January 2026, exports were up 11 percent year on year to $299 million.

Marzouk said January’s exports to the US rose by 16 percent to $118 million. Exports to the EU increased by 26 percent to a monthly record of $132 million.

“The council is pursuing coordination with the investment and foreign trade and finance and industry ministries to achieve more positive results,” he said.

Marzouk said the AECE had “an ambitious plan” to increase textile and garment exports by 22-25 percent each year for the next five years, which would allow it to top $12 billion in 2031.

Chinese and Turkish textile companies are already operating in Egypt while other countries have not yet come on stream, Marzouk said.

Egypt announced last year that it aims to raise the manufacturing sector’s contribution to GDP to 20 percent in 2030.

The country is feeling the impact of the war between the US-Israel and Iran. Egypt’s gas import bill has increased by $1.1 billion a month since the outbreak of the conflict, according to its prime minister.

Mostafa Madbouly said last week the country’s monthly gas import bill was $560 million before the war started but has now reached $1.65 billion. 

The government has also been forced to increase politically sensitive fuel prices by an average of 17 percent, citing “exceptional geopolitical developments”.

Further reading:

• Reasons to be cheerful? Cairo certainly hopes so
• Egypt to privatise operation of desalination plants
• Suez Canal revenue down $10bn due to regional conflicts