Egypt's non-petroleum exports increased 14 percent during the first half of 2018, recording $12.75 billion, compared to $11.21 billion during the first half of 2017, Minister of Industry and Foreign Trade Amr Nassar said. The minister clarified that the amount of exports rose by $1.53 billion during the first half of the current year. Nassar added that the ministry seeks during the current period to enter new markets, expand in traditional markets and make full use of trade agreements signed with a large number of countries and economic blocs around the world to boost Egyptian exports to foreign markets. Egypt's exports to European Union during the first six months of the year marked a progress of 18 percent, reaching $3.66 billion, compared to $3.09 billion during the same months of 2017, Nassar noted. He added that exports to Arab countries recorded $4.78 billion, compared to $4.54 billion in the same period of the prior year, with an increase of 5 percent. Meanwhile, exports to the United States climbed 11 percent to reach $705 million, compared to $637 million during the same period of the previous year. Exports to the African markets excluding the Arabs marked an increase of 27 percent to $756 million, compared to $596 million. Regarding the export sectors, the minister stated that a big number of these sectors achieved an increase of their exports during the first six months of the current year; in which the chemical industries sector jumped 26 percent to $2.59 billion, up from $2.06 billion, adding that exports of books and artistic works climbed to $6 million, up from $5 million, with an increase of 20 percent. Exports of the handicrafts sector increased 17.4 percent to reach $110 million, compared to $94 million. The minister pointed out that the medical industries sector jumped 16.3 percent, recording $249 million, compared to $214 million, adding that exports of the textiles sector hiked 11 percent to $449 million, compared to $405 million. Exports of the construction materials sector also rose 9 percent to $2.87 billion, compared to $2.63 billion, Nassar said, adding that exports of the ready-made garments sector increased 7.7 percent to $750 million, compared to $697 million, and the furniture sector exported by $256 million, compared to $250 million, with a 2.4 percent increase. He pointed out that the sector of electronic engineering industries achieved an increase of 1.8 percent, reaching $1.17 billion, compared to $1.15 billion, and the agricultural exports recorded $1.42 billion compared to $1.41 billion. For his part, Head of the General Organization for Export and Import Control Ismail Gaber said that the big markets that imported the Egyptian products during the first half of 2018, included the United Arab Emirates at $1.33 billion, followed by Turkey at $1.13 billion, Italy at $773 million, Saud Arabia at $717 million, and the United States at $705 million. Britain's imports from Egypt reached $524 million, followed by Spain at $487 million, Algeria at $49 million, then Germany at $358 million, Russia at $302 million, Jordon at $320 million, and France at $317 million. He pointed out that the markets of India, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Libya, Iraq, Morocco, China, Malta, Tunisia, Kenya, Sudan, Syria and Kuwait are also among the most important international markets which received non-oil exports from Egypt during the first half of this year. Gaber announced earlier that Egypt's non-petroleum exports recorded $10.7 billion during the first five months of 2018. Egypt's non-oil exports rose 10 percent in 2017 to $22.42 billion, up from $20.41 billion in 2016. Source: Egypt Today
