Cairo: Within the framework of Egypt’s goal to increase its total exports to $140-145 billion by 2030, the Chemicals and Fertilizers Export Council is planning a series of trade missions in 2025 to boost the country’s exports and strengthen its position in international markets. Khaled Abul-Makarem, the Chairman of the Council, announced that the missions will target four African nations – Tanzania, Ghana, the Ivory Coast, and Kenya – and Spain as part of ongoing efforts to diversify its trade partnerships and expand into untapped or underutilized markets.

According to State Information Service Egypt, Abul-Makarem emphasized that these trade missions align with the council’s goal of enhancing Egypt’s export performance and exploring new opportunities for Egyptian industries. He made the announcement during the third edition of the International Manufacturing Convention and Exhibition (IMCE), which was organized by the Industrial Modernization Centre (IMC) and held under the patronage of President Abdel-Fatt
ah El-Sisi.

One of the key parts of the trade missions will be the focus on offering Egyptian exporters a 50 percent shipping subsidy, a move aimed at reducing logistical costs and boosting competitiveness in international markets. Egypt’s export sector will continue to thrive, explained Abul-Makarem, as he expressed his confidence in the country’s trade capabilities.

He shared that chemical and fertilizer exports had grown by 5 percent in the first nine months of 2024, reaching a total of $6.5 billion. By the end of the year, exports are expected to reach approximately $8.5 billion. Abul-Makarem highlighted that expanding the council’s outreach and strengthening Egypt’s competitiveness are central to achieving this goal.

While exports of chemicals and fertilizers to Spain have been strong, reaching $297 million in 2023 according to Trade Map, Egypt’s exports to the Ivory Coast amounted to $18 million, to Ghana $7.7 million, to Kenya $6.4 million, and to Tanzania just $2 million. A particularly promising
area for growth is Egypt’s plastics and plastic products sector, which Abul-Makarem described as the ‘dark horse’ of the country’s export industry. Exports from this sector reached $2 billion in the first nine months of 2024, and the chairman expects this figure to rise to $2.5 billion by the end of the year.

Another area of significant growth has been the petrochemicals sector, he explained, which saw a remarkable 71 percent increase in exports, reaching $1 billion in the same period.