Egypt’s exports to Belgium rise 28% YoY in 2017

CAIRO – 10 April 2018: Egypt’s exports to Belgium increased 28 percent year-on-year in 2017, recording €320 million, compared to €250 million in 2016, Trade Minister Tarek Kabil said on Tuesday.

He said that trade exchange between Egypt and Belgium rose to €1.6 billion in 2017, compared to €1.4 billion in 2016, increasing by 11 percent.

This came in a report sent to the minister from the Egyptian commercial office in Brussels.

Head of the Egyptian Commercial Service Ahmed Antar said that exports of plastics, appliances, cables, fruits, vegetables, iron and steel, ceramic products, readymade garments and chemicals represented 80 percent of Egypt’s exports to Belgium.

Antar added that some exports saw a notable increase in 2017, including plastics that saw a 50 percent rise, vegetables (3.2%), machinery and meal wires (22%) and textiles (12%).

He further said that 2017 saw Egypt exporting some goods that were not exported during the same period of 2016, including black honey, orange juice and fiber glass.

Antar said that the increase in exports came in light of the commercial office’s efforts to facilitate the entry of Egyptian products into the Belgian market. The office has also worked on supporting Egypt’s participation in the international exhibitions hosted by

Belgium and it prepared marketing studies to Egyptian companies.
Kabil visited Brussels last month to attend the 10th meeting of trade ministers of the Union for the Mediterranean (UFM) countries.

On the sidelines of the meeting, the minister discussed boosting cooperation with a number of top Belgian business leaders.