CAIRO — Egypt’s apparel sector continued to build momentum in early 2026, with Egypt garment exports rising 15% year on year during the first four months of the year, supported by stronger orders from the United States and a sharp rebound across key European destinations. The latest figures, released by the Export Council for Readymade Garments, show the industry shipping about $1.15 billion in ready-made garments between January and April, up from roughly $1.002 billion over the same period last year.
April delivered the most striking acceleration so far in 2026. Exports for the month reached $287 million, compared with $216 million in April 2025, representing a 33% jump and the strongest monthly growth rate recorded this year.
The United States remained Egypt’s single largest market, with January–April shipments climbing to $429 million from $379 million a year earlier, a 13% increase. Europe, however, continued to dominate as the largest destination bloc, accounting for 44.6% of total exports. Sales to European markets rose to $512 million, up from $398 million in the comparable period, translating into robust 29% growth.
Looking at individual country rankings, Turkey placed second among importers with $135 million, followed by Spain at $102 million, Germany at $67 million and the Netherlands at $64 million. Shipments to the United Kingdom reached $42 million. Italy stood out for pace rather than scale, recording a 95% increase to $33 million.
Industry representatives said the results point to improving competitiveness for Egyptian manufacturers, helped by ongoing shifts in global sourcing as brands seek to spread risk and diversify supply bases. They also credited gains in production consistency, quality and delivery reliability—factors that continue to influence repeat ordering in both the US and Europe.
The Export Council said it is pursuing a dual-track strategy: expanding into new African markets while consolidating growth in Europe and North America, alongside efforts to attract investment into textile and garment capacity. The council reiterated its longer-term ambition to keep annual export growth above 22%, and said it expects Egypt garment exports to rise by more than $1 billion in 2026, potentially taking the sector to a record level of about $4.4 billion.
