Egypt’s Chemical Industries Export Council aims to grow the sector’s exports volume to African markets by 15%-22%, according to its Chairperson Khaled Abul Makarem.
Abul Makarem said that the target demand for Egyptian chemical industries products coming from the African market is worth approximately $750m, compared to the achievements of 2020.
He also said that the main markets that received Egyptian chemical products in 2020 to date are: Sudan, Kenya, Libya, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Ethiopia, and Nigeria.
Abul Makarem noted that chemical and fertiliser industry exports have recorded an average increase of 14% annually between 2015 and 2019, growing from $3.3bn in 2015 to $5.5bn in 2019.
There is great opportunity for Egypt’s chemical industries exports to grow in the African market, he said.
Abul Makarem added that the Council has prepared a mini-strategy for increasing exports to countries of the African continent, in particular to 18 African markets. These markets are: Kenya, Sudan, Zambia, Uganda, Nigeria, Tanzania, Angola, Gabon, Senegal, Cameroon, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), South Africa, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, and Somalia.
“The Chemical Industries Export Council submitted a memorandum to the Minister of Industry and Trade, calling for the implementation of the freight support programme,” Abul Makarem said, “This is to include, in addition to the African market, the strategic markets for each sector, especially land-locked countries where freight and transportation costs are high.”
He added that there are many export sectors listed under the chemical industries sector. Among the most important products that have current export opportunities due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic are: plastic, rubber, detergents, disinfectants, and various organic and inorganic chemicals.
This can be attributed to their being intermediate products that enter many industries, as well as fertiliser products.
Moreover, Abul Makarem emphasised that the African market poses a significant opportunity for the growth of many sectors, especially the chemical industries sector.
This is due to the sector’s products varying between intermediate and feeding commodities, and production inputs for all agricultural and industrial sectors, and finished products that are sold directly to the final consumer.
