Egyptian-made clothing now holds 90% of local market as exports head for $4bn, garments chamber says

Egyptian-made garments now account for about 90% of the clothing on offer in Egypt's domestic market, against about 10% for imports, Mohamed Abdel Salam, chairman of the Ready-Made Garments Chamber at the Federation of Egyptian Industries, said on Friday 2 October in Cairo. He was speaking at the opening of the 82nd edition of the Cairo Fashion & Tex exhibition, according to Youm7.

Abdel Salam said the market has changed sharply over roughly six to seven years, when products on sale were split about evenly between imported and locally made goods. He attributed the shift to the industry's growth, support from the state and the Ministry of Industry, higher production capacity and better product quality that keeps pace with international fashion.

On exports, he said garment and textile exports reached about $3.4bn in 2025 and rose by between 22% and 25% in the first nine months of 2026. He expects the sector's exports to approach $4bn by the end of this year. He added that the industry's progress has attracted new investment from both Egyptian and foreign investors, helped by infrastructure, a stable business environment and an integrated chain that runs from cotton growing through spinning, weaving, dyeing, finishing and accessories to finished garments.

Maha Saleh, Assistant Minister of Industry for Industrial Policies, who opened the show, said textiles and ready-made garments have promising room to grow. She pointed to Egyptian cotton as one of the industry's main advantages amid rising global interest, and to linen as a further opportunity. The exhibition runs from 2 to 4 October with more than 850 brands and more than 1,000 buyers and importers from 18 countries, the report said.

"Egyptian products now represent about 90% of what is on offer, against 10% for imported products," Abdel Salam said.

What it means for Egyptian exporters

A domestic market dominated by local production signals deep, tested capacity that foreign buyers can tap, and the chamber's projection points to continued export momentum. The nine-month growth range is the chamber head's own estimate: official nine-month export data had not been published when he spoke, so buyers and exporters should watch for the export council's figures. Saleh's emphasis on Egyptian cotton, linen and sustainability matches what EU and US buyers increasingly ask of their suppliers.