Egypt

Retail e-commerce in Egypt continued to develop fast at the end of the review period. As a result, it was set to improve its ranking among the largest markets in the channel, moving ahead of South Africa, by the end of the review period. All…

Self-service cafeterias remained the smallest channel within consumer foodservice in Egypt in 2023 in terms of foodservice value sales and number of outlets. The “do it yourself” trend has yet to penetrate Egyptian culture, with consumers still…

Full-service restaurants registered healthy growth in value sales and also in terms of the opening of new establishments in 2023. Despite an inflationary context, demand for eating out was high. Moreover, a new trend emerged in full-service…

Homegrown brands providing speciality coffee have taken the market by storm. One example is Seven Fortunes which was created through an interesting story in which the founders were inspired by a man named Sufi Baba Budan who journeyed the world in…

Despite facing complex economic challenges, tissue and hygiene in Egypt demonstrated resilience during 2023, maintaining growth and expansion. Consumers exhibited heightened price sensitivity, with the cost playing a significant role in their…

Small local grocers in Egypt continued to dominate grocery retailers in outlet and value sales terms in 2023. The US FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has confirmed the dominance of traditional grocery retailers in Egypt towards the end of the…

Men’s grooming saw strong current value growth in Egypt in 2023, while volume sales fell slightly during the year. Growth was driven primarily by the fact that the prices of men's grooming products significantly increased. Reasons for these price…

Limited-service restaurants registered healthy growth in value sales and also in terms of the opening of new establishments in 2023. It also remained the largest category within consumer foodservice. This was in spite of difficult economic…

Beauty and personal care witnessed a decline in volume sales in Egypt in 2023 and a substantial increase in value terms due to a considerable rise in prices. In a harsh economic environment, with inflation exceeding 35% in 2023, and no government…

Despite the sharp price increases in cylinder vacuum cleaners, demand remained steady in 2023. Sales volumes witnessed a healthy increase as these are one of the most essential home appliances in Egypt. Indeed, cylinder vacuum cleaners represent more…

In 2023, soft drinks witnessed moderate retail volume growth and double-digit current value growth, supported by the continuous rise in prices across most categories. Economic uncertainty has been a key challenge for soft drinks manufacturers and…

While RTD tea has performed reasonably well in 2023, it remains very much a niche area in Egypt, with only sports drinks generating lower off-trade volume sales among the main categories in the local soft drinks market. Even with the emergence of…

The juice category is witnessing strong value growth across most of its categories in 2023, driven by higher unit prices. Overall demand for juice continues to rise, unlike some other non-alcoholic drinks categories, although consumers are switching…

Childrenswear is facing the same economic issues as menswear and womenswear in 2023. Retail volume sales have decreased in 2023, due to the high costs of living and soaring childrenswear prices. The rising cost of living has forced parents to make…

Apparel accessories in Egypt witnessed a significant decrease in retail volume sales as prices soared in 2023. Prices were pushed up by the escalation of raw material costs, with cotton, leather and threads all soaring. The devaluation of the…

Overall, breakfast cereals in Egypt is projected to see a decline in retail volume sales over 2023, but a dynamic increase in retail current value terms, due to the hikes in product prices during the year. Price hikes have been driven by several…

Over 2023, baked goods is set to see strong retail and foodservice volume growth and double-digit retail current value growth, as prices increase. Baked goods, especially bread, are popular, offering a reliable and affordable source of carbohydrates.…

Demand for digestive remedies continues to strengthen in 2023 as consumers suffer from more digestive ailments. Poor eating habits amongst all classes of the Egyptian population remain the main cause of growth in demand for digestive remedies. Eating…

The ongoing Russia invasion of Ukraine has had a global impact, including a direct effect on Egyptian tourism due to a decline in Ukrainian tourist arrivals. Despite this challenge, Egypt's tourism industry has strategically expanded its reach to new…

Consumer electronics is under pressure in 2023 as the Egyptian economy is confronted by exceptional economic challenges. In the face of rising prices, current value sales recorded double-digit growth in 2023. However, demand has waned for consumer…

Although the price of microwaves increased by 65% during 2022, retail volume sales witnessed strong double-digit growth as consumers were eager to make purchases before currency devaluations took place. Import restrictions on components and the…

Sleeping pills are in high demand in Egypt, leading to double-digit retail value growth in 2023. Sleep problems are very common in the country, with many people struggling to fall asleep or stay asleep, impacting their daily lives. Sleeping pills can…

Egypt's hotel industry has been experiencing dynamic growth, with numerous hotels opening and many more expected to launch in the near future. From IHG Hotels and Resorts' Crown Plaza Hotel in West Cairo's Arkan Sheikh Zayed in February 2022 to…

As in other soft drinks categories, unit prices continue to rise in bottled water due to the economic uncertainty facing Egypt and its consumers. This was reflected across all brands, with Nestlé hitting a price of EGP5.5 for its 1L bottle and…

Sportswear saw a strong decline in current value sales in 2023, due to the substantial price increases seen in this category. Rising inflation has been exacerbated by the depreciation of the Egyptian pound leaving many consumers stretched…

Regional differences and the standard of living in the area greatly influences consumer buying behaviour. Regions have different cultural and social norms that impact the types of products that are purchased and the way they are marketed. For…

Egypt's national carrier, Egypt Air, is leading the way in sustainable aviation in Africa by launching its inaugural eco-friendly flight service in 2022. Operating a Boeing 787 from Cairo to Paris, this initiative, known as the Green Flight, is part…

Headphones moved back into growth in 2023 despite the continuation of economic problems. Foreign currency shortages imposed a heavy burden on this category, as virtually all headphones are imported into Egypt. Inflation and the weaker Egyptian pound…

The market for cigars, cigarillos, and smoking tobacco in Egypt witnessed only modest growth in volume terms in 2023, thanks to disruption to supply chains, which led to shortages at a retail level. This resulted in many smokers reducing their…

The major focus in health and beauty specialists in Egypt has shifted from premium brands to ones using all natural ingredients, vegan products and reduced levels of chemicals in the production of products. In this vein, the offers of many brands,…

Premium beauty and personal care segment saw double-digit current value growth in Egypt in 2023 but significant decline in volumes during the year. Two main factors impeded the performance of premium beauty and personal care during the year. Firstly,…

Sports drinks are not popular in Egypt, with their penetration in the country having historically been inhibited by a combination of relatively high prices, limited availability and low awareness of their specific benefits. In 2023, retail prices of…

Egypt is witnessing a growing coffee culture, which is having a knock-on impact on the appeal of RTD coffee. In 2023, RTD coffee sales have been buoyed by rising interest in these products among more affluent Egyptians, particularly younger urban…

Soaring prices in the hosiery category led to double-digit value growth in 2023, although volume sales reported a significant decline. High inflation remains an issue fuelled by escalating input costs, including raw materials like cotton. The…

The headline in edible oils in 2023 is the huge increase in unit prices, leading to astounding value growth. However, on the other hand, this means many consumers cannot afford such oils, and volume is crashing in turn. There are a number of factors…

Forbes Middle East's recent list of the top 30 fintech companies for 2023 highlighted a strong presence from Egypt. Fawry secured the top spot, boasting an extensive network of 36 member banks, over 280,000 agents, and a user base exceeding 49…

Egyptian consumer health is set to post positive growth in 2023, with analgesics boosting retail value sales, benefiting from an ongoing demand due to the variety of symptoms it treats. Aligned with the rising health trends, vitamins and dietary…

Mass beauty and personal care saw double-digit current value growth in Egypt in 2023 driven by the hard economic situation and the high rate of inflation, which reached more than 35%. The marked rise in prices, and lack of governmental control over…

Since February 2023, there have been repeated currency devaluations in Egypt alongside high inflation rates. This has led to a sharp increase in unit prices of refrigeration appliances, rising by 70% in 2022 and another 45% in 2023. The short-term…

Over the review period, there have been significant fluctuations in the supply of tea in Egypt. Imports have come under pressure due to currency devaluations and a deficit in foreign currency, making it hard for importers to bring raw materials into…

The Central Bank of Egypt reported a noteworthy 15% overall growth in the total number of electronic cards in Egypt by the end of 2022. Specifically, the number of debit cards in the market witnessed a substantial 12% growth. The government's ongoing…

Despite the evolving financial landscape, charge cards retain their status as an unpopular category in Egypt. The demand for charge cards remains stagnant, with no anticipated improvements in terms of popularity, transaction volumes, or market share…

Other Dairy retail volume sales are suffering in 2023 following the huge price increase, up by more than 60%. These increases were due to the rise in prices of raw materials, such as powder milk and sugar, as its mostly imported. In addition, the…

Vitamins continue to witness strong performance, continuing the positive trend seen across the entire review period, with a double-digit retail sales growth noted in 2023. The COVID-19 pandemic impacted vitamin sales as consumers became more aware of…

The health and wellness trend encourages a holistic approach to health, considering the lifestyle and habits of a person rather than focusing solely on physical symptoms. It recognises that various aspects of life, including nutrition, exercise,…

Wearable electronics is enjoying healthy growth in retail volume and current value terms in 2023. In the face of a weaker Egyptian pound and high inflation rates, average unit prices climbed by some 17% in 2022 and a further 14% in 2023. Import…

Egypt resumed acceptance of import collection documents in 2023, opening the door for imports after they were halted in February 2022. Import issues have prevailed in line with foreign currency shortages and three devaluations of the Egyptian pound…

Despite cost-cutting measures by producers, high inflation continues to drive up unit prices in carbonates. This is part of a broad trend in price inflation, which is impacting all non-alcoholic products. Early on in the year prices had witnessed a…

Egypt continues to face significant economic challenges in 2023 led by soaring inflation, a devalued currency and difficulty obtaining foreign currency. Importers are facing major challenges as they struggle to pay import shipments, which has led to…

Amidst the ongoing economic challenges in Egypt, ranging from currency devaluation to inflation and restricted overseas transactions, credit cards have gained substantial traction. The reliance on credit cards is expected to surge further in the…