Egypt's exports of building materials, refractory, and metallurgy industries fell by 16 percent to $450 million in January, compared to $535 million in the same month a year earlier. The country's exports of ceramics plummeted by 64 percent, while exports of jewels and precious stones declined by 45 percent and metallurgy industries by 12 percent, according to the monthly report of the Export Council for Building Materials, Refractory, and Metallurgy Industries (ECBM) on Saturday. Meanwhile, exports of cement surged by 61percent, aluminium by 40 percent, and iron and steel by 30percent, the report showed. The UAE was the largest market destination of Egypt's exports of building materials, refractory, and metallurgy industries with a value of $107 million in January, down by 51percent from $219 million in the corresponding month a year earlier. Exports of building materials, refractory, and metallurgy industries to Turkey registered $16 million. Sudan, Spain, Italy, and Saudi Arabia imported building materials, refractory, and metallurgy industries worth $16 million, $21 million, $44 million, and $24 million, respectively, from the most populous Arab nation.
