Egyptian non-petroleum exports hiked by 4 percent during the first five months of 2016 to US$8.5 billion from US$8.2 billion at the same period of 2015. Executive Director of Egypt's Chemical Export Council (CEC), Ahmed Hendi stated Wednesday that the latest report of General Organization For Export & Import Control (GOEIC) showed that building materials sector led the list of largest exporters during January-May 2016. The total exports of building materials sector reached US$1.8 billion in January-May 2016 versus US$1.4 billion a year earlier, marking 26 percent increase. Hendi added that the exports of chemical industries sector recorded US$1.237 billion during the first five months of 2016 opposed to US$1.198 billion at the same period of 2015, registering 3 percent increase. The report also showed that agricultural exports recorded a 6 percent growth by the end of May 2016 since exports volume increased to US$1.2 billion from US1.1 billion in May 2015. Meanwhile, exports of food industries sector hit US$1.179 billion in January-May 2016 compared to US$1.178 billion, making a 0.1 percent growth rate. On other side, exports of handicrafts sector declined by 12 percent to US$625 million at the end of May 2016 from US$552 million, while ready-made cloths sector achieved exports estimated at US$496 million opposed to US$591 million, marking 16 percent drop. The report showed that exports of textile sector sagged by 8 percent from US$491 million to US$349 million during the first five months of 2016.
