Egypt's Exports of Building Materials Skyrockets as Production Booms

Egypt's exports of building materials, refractories and metal industries increased by 32.8% during the first quarter of 2020 to record $ 1.527 billion compared to $ 1.15 billion during the same period last year, reaching $ 501 million in March.

The monthly report issued on Saturday by the Export Council for Building Materials, Refractory & Metallurgy Industries (ECBM) indicated that 10 countries amounted for 75.4% of the sector's total exports worth $ 1.152 billion during the period from January-March 2020.

Meantime, Egypt's exports of building materials to the UAE increased during the first quarter of this year by 64% to $ 567 million compared to $ 347 million, accounting for 37.1% of the total value of exports.

Egypt's exports of building materials to Canada also increased during the Q1 2020 to $ 191 million, compared to $ 156 million during the same period in 2019, a growth of 23%. Exports to Italy also increased by 29% to $ 131 million, compared to $ 102 million. As for Turkey exports record $ 31 million compared to $23 million, an increase of 34%.

Moreover, Egypt's exports of building materials increased by 4048% to Australia to record $ 33 million against $ 795,000 last year. Exports to Spain also boomed by 19% as it recorded $ 33 million against $ 28 million a year earlier. In Germany, the Egyptian construction products increased 12%, recording $ 26 million against $ 29 million in 2019.

However, building materials exports to the US fell by 56% to $ 26 million during Q1 2020 compared to $ 61 million during the same period in 2019. Saudi Arabia's imports of Egyptian building matrials also fell by 24% to $ 74 million compared to $ 98 million. Egypt's exports of building materials to Libya also dropped by 27% to $ 40 million against $ 54 million.