Egypt’s manufacturing and extractive industries index – excluding crude oil and petroleum products – rose by 3.9 per cent in March, reaching 120.47 points, up from 115.93 in February.
According to the Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics, the increase was largely driven by seasonal demand for food and a significant boost in steel rebar production.
The monthly index, which uses the fiscal year 2012-13 as its base and reflects producer prices from January 2020 onward, is part of Egypt’s ongoing efforts to enhance industrial measurement standards.
The rise in manufacturing activity also coincides with Egypt’s strengthening economic ties with Arab markets. Total trade volume with Arab countries reached $30.5 billion in 2024 – a 16pc increase from $26.3bn in 2023.
Egyptian exports to Arab nations rose by 18pc to $16.2bn, while imports grew by 14pc to $14.3bn. Saudi Arabia remained Egypt’s top Arab trading partner, with bilateral trade surpassing $11.3bn. Egyptian exports to the kingdom totalled $3.4bn, followed by the UAE at $3.3bn and Libya at $2bn. On the import side, Egypt received $7.9bn in goods from Saudi Arabia, $2.7bn from the UAE, and $947 million from Kuwait.
Sector-wise, the food manufacturing index jumped 10.18 pc in March, rising to 160.02 from 145.24 in February – driven by Ramadan-related consumption. The base metals sector saw even sharper growth, climbing 22.89 pc to 65.92 from 53.64, largely due to heightened steel rebar production amid robust construction and infrastructure activity.
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