RIYADH: Egypt’s manufacturing and extractive industries index — excluding crude oil and petroleum products—rose by 3.9 percent in March, reaching 120.47 points, up from 115.93 in February, according to the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics.

The increase was largely driven by seasonal demand for food and a significant boost in steel rebar production, CAPMAS reported.

The monthly index, which uses the fiscal year 2012-13 as its base and reflects producer prices from January 2020 onward, is part of Egypt’s ongoing efforts to enhance industrial measurement standards.

The rise in manufacturing activity also coincides with Egypt’s strengthening economic ties with Arab markets. Total trade volume with Arab countries reached $30.5 billion in 2024—a 16 percent increase from $26.3 billion in 2023.

Egyptian exports to Arab nations rose by 18 percent to $16.2 billion, while imports grew by 14 percent to $14.3 billion. Saudi Arabia remained Egypt’s top Arab trading partner, with bilateral trade surpassing $11.3 billion. Egyptian exports to the Kingdom totaled $3.4 billion, followed by the UAE at $3.3 billion and Libya at $2 billion. On the import side, Egypt received $7.9 billion in goods from Saudi Arabia, $2.7 billion from the UAE, and $947 million from Kuwait.

Sector-wise, the food manufacturing index jumped 10.18 percent in March, rising to 160.02 from 145.24 in February—driven by Ramadan-related consumption. The base metals sector saw even sharper growth, climbing 22.89 percent to 65.92 from 53.64, largely due to heightened steel rebar production amid robust construction and infrastructure activity.

However, not all sectors fared equally. The tobacco products index plummeted by 27.44 percent to 118.84, down from 163.78 in February, reflecting a drop in cigarette consumption. Similarly, the printing and reproduction of recorded media sector fell 14.43 percent to 115.18, attributed to the seasonal completion of textbook printing contracts.

CAPMAS emphasized that the new figures reflect both seasonal trends and long-term structural shifts in Egypt’s industrial landscape.