Written by: Badr Ahmed
Egypt continued to strengthen its economic and industrial position at the level of the African continent, after it topped the list of the largest industrial economies in Africa for 2026, according to a classification issued by the American website World Population Review (WPR), which relied on the added value of the industrial sector as a key indicator to measure the strength of industrial activity in African countries.
Egypt ranks first in Africa in industrial added value.
According to the report, Egypt recorded an industrial added value estimated at about $60 billion annually, ranking first in Africa, ahead of both Nigeria and South Africa, which are among the largest economies on the continent.
This progress reflects the continued growth witnessed by the Egyptian industrial sector in recent years, supported by significant expansions in infrastructure, industrial zones, and local and foreign investments.
Industrial value added is considered one of the most important indicators that measure the contribution of the industrial sector to the gross domestic product, as it reflects the volume of industrial production after deducting the costs of inputs used in the manufacturing process.
Therefore, Egypt's leading position in this index confirms its ability to achieve high levels of production and manufacturing compared to many other African economies.
This achievement comes as the Egyptian government moves towards strengthening local manufacturing and increasing industrial exports, in addition to implementing major industrial projects in various fields including engineering, chemical, food, building materials and energy industries.
The new economic and industrial zones also contributed to attracting additional investments that helped to raise the productive capacity of the sector.
Economic experts believe that Egypt's leading position in the list of the largest industrial economies in Africa enhances its chances of becoming a regional industrial hub serving the markets of the Middle East, Africa and Europe, especially with its advanced network of ports, roads and logistics zones that facilitate trade and exports.
This ranking also reflects the success of efforts to diversify national income sources and reduce dependence on traditional sectors, which contributes to creating new job opportunities and increasing economic growth rates.
Egypt is expected to continue strengthening its industrial position in the coming years as it continues to implement production expansion plans and attract quality industrial investments, thereby supporting its competitiveness at the regional and international levels.
