Egypt’s textile exports increased by about 12 per cent this year while imports declined by 59 per cent. A national strategy is being prepared for the textiles, spinning, and readymade clothing industry aimed at promoting the textile industries sector in Egypt in all stages of production from cotton cultivation until accessing the final product.

A new textile city will be established. The industry will be upgraded to meet the needs of the local market and to promote Egyptian readymade clothes to global markets. The country is exerting efforts to curb smuggling operations, which negatively impact the textile industry. Measures will be taken to eliminate these illegal practices.

Effective initiatives will be adopted to increase investment and export rates within the textile sector. Egyptian long staple cotton is famously used for luxury linens. It trades at a high premium compared to the more common short-staple cotton.

In the past two years, Egypt has taken measures to restore seed purity and cotton quality. Egyptian cotton’s length, strength, firmness, color, trash count and maturity have all improved in 2016-2017 compared to 2015-2016. This development has increased the demand and the prices for Egyptian cotton in local and international markets.