As Egypt’s second-largest industrial sector, textiles and apparel account for 8% of exports, 34% of industrial production, and 3.4% of GDP. The country exports mainly woven goods to the USA, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia, benefiting from duty-free access to the EU with a double transformation rule of origin.

Egypt is Africa’s leading producer of extra-long-staple (Giza) cotton, cultivating 300–400 thousand bales annually, with around 80% grown in the Nile Delta. While it produces the world’s highest-quality cotton, domestic demand significantly exceeds supply, making the country a net importer. Most of Egypt’s textile industry relies on imported short- and medium-staple cotton varieties, commonly used in products such as denim and T-shirts. The sector also depends heavily on man made fiber imports, given limited local production. In contrast, Egyptian ELS cotton is used for premium home textiles and high-end apparel

Egypt’s textile industry covers all tiers of the supply chain, with the public sector leading in spinning, weaving, and hemming, while most garment production is privately managed. The country remains highly competitive in spinning and weaving thanks to its strategic location, low labor costs, and affordable electricity. It hosts around 3,243 companies, producing 315 million apparel items, with 25% of the industry focused on textile production.

As per the UNIDO report, Egypt’s waste market is more structured, active, and profitable than Tunisia or Morocco. While some T2T recycling exists, it often relies on spinning waste or imported feedstock due to local quality issues. High-quality waste (100% cotton or cotton-rich) is mostly exported or downcycled into automotive, mattress, or pillow industries.