Egypt clothes exports boosted by strong Western demand
Strong demand from the US and Europe for Egyptian products boosted the country’s ready-made clothes exports in the first quarter of 2026.
From about $787 million in the first quarter of 2025, the value of Egypt’s garment exports increased to nearly $862 million in the first three months of this year, the Apparel Export Council of Egypt (AECE) said in a statement on its website.
The US emerged as the largest single importer of Egypt’s clothing products, with a value of about $329 million in the first quarter of 2026, an increase of nearly 14 percent compared to the same period of last year.
The European Union’s imports of Egyptian garments surged by nearly 21 percent year on year to $379 million in the same period, the report said, adding that the EU and the US accounted for 44 percent and 38 percent of Egypt’s total garment exports respectively.
Other key importers include Arab states, which had a share of 13 percent in the first quarter, followed by Turkey with a share of about 11 percent.
“These indicators confirm that the ready-made garment sector continues to consolidate its position as a key component of GDP, benefiting from improved quality and increased international reliance on production lines outside Asia…this opens the door for further expansion in the coming period, especially with the continued focus on major markets and flow of more investments into the industry,” the report said.
AECE said in March that it has devised a five-year plan to nearly triple ready-made garment exports to at least $12 billion.
During 2026, garment exports are expected to surge by nearly $1 billion, an increase of about 11 percent over 2025, it said.
Egypt, the most populated Arab nation, announced last year that it aims to raise the manufacturing sector’s contribution to 20 percent of GDP by 2030.
Further reading:
- Egypt seeks support from GCC banks for food imports
- Egypt aims to cut foreign debt by up to $2bn in next budget
- Egypt aims to cut deficit but energy subsidies set to rise
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