Egypt’s plasticware exports grew by 43 percent in the first eleven months of 2021 despite the challenges imposed by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, Minister of Trade and Industry Nevine Gamea said on Sunday, ahram.org reported.
Gamea made her statements on the sidelines of the inauguration of the 18th edition of Egy Plast Expo (Plastex 2022).
During the same period, fertilizers and chemical industry exports reached $5.9 billion, up from $4.1 billion recorded in the corresponding period in 2020, according to the minister.
Meanwhile, chemical industries topped Egypt’s plasticware exports in 2021 with a total value of $2.7 billion compared to $1.4 billion posted in the same period of 2020, said Gamea.
The minister noted that the plasticware industry has become an essential component of Egypt’s local manufacturing over the past ten years as a result of relying on plastic materials instead of other items like glass and metals.
Moreover, Gamea pointed out the new support programme the trade ministry recently approved that aims to back the competitiveness of the Egyptian products, which helped the Egyptian exports to record their highest growth of $31 billion during 2021 despite the pandemic..
“The government shoulders 80 percent of the total shipping cost of the products shipping to African markets,” Gamea said.
Under the direction of Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the government is working to raise Egyptian exports, one of its main foreign exchange resources, in all sectors.
The 18th edition of Egy Plast Expo is scheduled to close on Wednesday, and is expected to receive over 22,000 visitors. .
The expo features 340 exhibitors, including 70 local manufacturing and export companies, in addition to 270 foreign companies representing nine countries, including India, Germany, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Vietnam, Switzerland, Turkey, Qatar and China.