Thursday, July 31/2025 – 01:11 PM
Alaa Nasr El -Din, a member of the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Wood and Furniture in the Federation of Egyptian Industries, said that the furniture industry faces great challenges as a result of the general economic situation, as the prices of raw materials used in the industry jumped unprecedentedly, and the industry was also affected by austerity policies and the liberalization of the exchange rate, as well as the use of owners of capital for modern machines in an attempt to reduce operational costs.
Nasruddin said in press statements that the industry in Egypt is affected negatively due to the high cost of production and energy prices, which affects the competitiveness of local products. The sector suffers from a shortage of some raw materials and imported spare parts, as a result of disturbances in global supply chains and the decline in the ability to import due to the financial restrictions imposed on the foreign currency.
The biggest obstacles to the growth of the sector
He added that Egypt’s geographical location provides a competitive advantage to reach global markets and relatively low costs for skilled workers, but the sector suffers from the phenomenon of exploitation of employment at the hands of Mobilia brokers, especially with the increase in the numbers of unemployed and their entry.
He stressed that the crisis of importing wood and raw materials is one of the greatest obstacles to the growth of the sector, as it leads to a high cost of the product and weakens competition opportunities in foreign markets.
He pointed out that the government is making great efforts to support the national industry as a locomotive of economic growth, as the future vision focuses on promoting technology and innovation, expanding the base of export industries, and supporting small and medium enterprises, as well as working to settle the heavy and advanced industries to reduce the import bill.
He revealed that Egypt’s furniture exports approximately $ 200 million during the first half of 2025, after it reached 331 million dollars in 2024, compared to $ 290 million in 2023, indicating that the target is the target of $ 350 million by the end of this year.
