Egypt's plastic exports surge, driving higher logistics throughput

Egypt’s plastics sector has recorded growth of about 16% in recent months, reflecting higher export volumes and increased movement of goods through the country’s logistics network, according to Khaled Abou El-Makarem, Head of the Export Council for Chemicals and Fertilisers.

Speaking at the opening of the 20th editions of the Plastics and EGYPlast exhibitions, Abou El-Makarem said the expansion of plastics manufacturing is translating into higher outbound shipments, placing added focus on ports, inland transport and export handling capacity across Egypt.

He said plastic product exports have reached approximately $2.4 billion, while total exports from the chemicals and fertilisers sector stood at about $9.5 billion. These flows are contributing to foreign currency inflows and increasing throughput requirements across export-orientated logistics corridors serving regional and overseas markets.

Abou El-Makarem added that the chemicals and fertilisers sector is a key pillar in Egypt’s plan to raise total exports to $145 billion in the coming years, a target that would require further alignment between industrial output, customs processes and freight movement to sustain export growth.

He also pointed to Egypt’s trade agreements and investment environment as factors supporting rising export volumes, noting growing interest from international companies. This positioning as a regional industrial hub is expected to drive continued demand for logistics services linked to plastics exports, including warehousing, port operations and cross-border transport.