Egyptian exports of chemicals and fertilisers were down 11 percent in the first half of 2019, the Chemical and Fertilizers Export Council said, to $2.419 billion compared with $2.707 billion in the same period last year. Egypt's exports of plastic and rubber products saw a 3 percent increase during the first half of 2019 to reach $839.76 million, compared with $817.24 million in the first half of 2018, council chairman Khaled Abu El Makarem said on Monday during the council's board meeting. Exports of fertiliser products were up by 1 percent, registering $667.3 million compared with $658.09 million, the chairman said. Exports of inks and paints increased by 6 percent to reach $19.70 million compared with $18.61 million. Exports of dry cells and batteries also witnessed a 28 percent increase, hitting $9.25 million compared with $7.25 million for the same period last year. Coal exports were also up by a whopping 164 percent to reach $28.49 million compared with $10.8 million, Makarem said. He added that exports of glass products increased by 2 percent to reach $84.84 million compared with $80.3 million. However, a number of exports were on a declining trend during the first half of 2019, including paper and cardboard products, which plunged by 11 percent, registering $258.71 million compared with $291.69 million in 2018. Exports of inorganic chemicals also went down by about 15 percent to reach $218.4 million compared with $257.18 million in 2018, he added. The detergents sector also shrank 32 percent to reach $110.96 million compared with $162.65 million, while organic chemical exports saw a 63 percent decline to record $88.06 million compared with $241.04 million. Exports of adhesive materials decreased by 51 percent to reach $13.36 million compared with $27.51 in the same period last year. The chemicals sector still tops the list of exports in spite of the recent decline, Makarem said, attributing the downward trend to delayed export support services.
