Chemicals exports hit $2bn in eight months- Egypt’s CEC

By Noha Gad On Oct 19, 2016

Egyptian total exports of chemicals products rose by 7 percent during the first eight months of 2016 to US$2.023 billion from US$1.8 billion a year earlier.

Chairman of Egyptian Chemicals Export Council (CEC), Khaled Abu El Makarem stated Tuesday that state’s chemicals and fertilizers exports dropped in August 2016 by 14 percent.

In August 2016, the total volume of Egyptian chemicals and fertilizers exports recorded US$22.9 million opposed to US$257.8 million in August 2015.

Abu El Makarem asserted that Turkey was the largest importer of Egyptian chemicals products, seizing around 34 percent of the total volume, followed by France that captured 11 percent of Egypt’s total chemicals exports.

Saudi Arabia was the third largest importer of Egyptian chemicals products as it got 10 percent of the total volume, followed by Italy whose imports represented 9 percent then Belgium with 7 percent of the total exports of Egypt’s chemicals sector.

The chairman added that most of council’s sectors witnessed an increase in exports volume; fertilizers exports soared by 101 percent to US$383.23 million in January-August 2016 from US$190.25 million a year earlier while paper products exports increased by 13 percent to US$295.5 million.

During January-August 2016, detergents exports climbed by 57 percent to US$171.2 million opposed to US$109.1 million at the same period of 2015.

Exports of organic chemicals recorded US$61.5 million during the first eight months of 2016 compared to US$21.7 million, making a 183 percent leap.

The official clarified that the total volume of glass products exports reached US$96.1 million in January-August 2016 versus US$93.4 million at the same period of 2015, registering a 3 percent raise.

Chairman Abu El Makarem noted that Procter & Gamble’s- Egypt (P&G) was the largest exporter during the first eight months of 2016 as it seized 15.8 percent of the total exports volume.