Egypt can still hit its goal of US $20 billion in annual textile and apparel exports by 2030, but only if it adopts a fresh approach that speeds up export expansion and draws more domestic manufacturers into worldwide value and supply networks.
This was informed by Mahmoud Ghazal, who is board member of Textile Industries Chamber and chairman of Nile Textile Industries (NTI).
Its geographic position, web of trade agreements and closeness to major consumer markets, plus scope to build an integrated chain from yarn spinning through fabric to finished apparel, give Egypt solid grounds for reaching that goal, Ghazal argued.
Capturing roughly 5% of world trade in textiles and clothing would lift Egyptian exports to the $20 billion mark, he observed. Getting there, though, demands a wider pool of exporters and more local firms able to plug into overseas supply chains.
Overseas shipments of Egyptian ready-made garments totalled about $2.525 billion between January and August 2026, a 16% annual rise.
“Sales to European destinations grew 26% to $1.087 billion, with Spain surging 61% to $227 million,” Daily News Egypt reported.
At the present pace, however, the 2030 goal will slip out of reach, Ghazal cautioned. Projections drawing on past performance, manufacturing capacity and accessible markets indicate shipments might top out near $4 billion unless growth picks up markedly.
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are a key engine for future export growth, Ghazal said, pointing out that active garment exporters climbed to 749 in the first seven months of 2026, against 722 in the same period last year.
Yet a larger exporter count is not enough by itself. Egyptian firms must take a bigger role in international manufacturing via direct exports, original equipment manufacturing (OEM) and private-label production.
Backing SMEs, upgrading their manufacturing capabilities and linking them to overseas contracts and supply chains would widen Egypt’s export base and raise domestic value added, he explained.
Ultimately, delivering the $20 billion target will hinge on a well-defined implementation roadmap, larger production capacity, fresh markets and closer embedding within global value chains, he added.
Image courtesy: RISE
