Editing Economy of Egypt (section)

==== Iron and steel ====
Egypt's iron and steel industry has played a crucial role in the nation's economic development, with a history dating back to 1936. Over the decades, the sector has expanded through state-owned enterprises and private firms, becoming a key driver of industrial growth and employment. In 2022, Egypt emerged as Africa’s leading steel producer, second-largest in [[MENA]] and [[List of countries by steel production|20th]] globally, with an output of 9.8 million tons.<ref name=steel>{{Cite web |title=Egypt’s steel: a flourishing industry with future potential |url=https://www.zawya.com/en/economy/north-africa/egypts-steel-a-flourishing-industry-with-future-potential-cmlch9kw |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=Zawya}}</ref> [[EZDK]] is the largest steel company in Egypt and the Middle East, today part of Ezz Industries. It owns four steel plants in [[Alexandria]], [[Sadat (city)|Sadat]], [[Suez]] and [[10th of Ramadan (city)|10th of Ramadan]]. It was ranked 77th on the list of the world's largest steel companies by the World Steel Association in 2020, with a production of 4.57&nbsp;million tons.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Top Producers |url=https://worldsteel.org/steel-by-topic/statistics/top-producers/ |access-date=2022-04-12 |website=worldsteel.org |language=en-US}}</ref> 

In 2023 exports of reinforced steel surged more than threefold, reaching 1.54 million tons compared to 523,000 tons in the previous year. At the same time, crude steel production grew by 6% to 10.4 million tons, supported by increased exports, particularly in [[Rolling (metalworking)|hot-rolled coil]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Egypt's Steel Exports Surge Threefold, Signaling Resilience Amidst Industry Challenges|url=https://www.businesstodayegypt.com/Article/1/4445/Egypt-s-Steel-Exports-Surge-Threefold-Signaling-Resilience-Amidst-Industry|access-date=2025-02-27 |website=Business Today Egypt}}</ref> 

Domestic consumption of steel products has steadily increased, reflecting the industry's importance to infrastructure and construction projects. However, the sector faces challenges, including outdated production technologies and competition from lower-cost imports, particularly from [[Turkey]], [[China]], and [[Ukraine]]. The government has implemented policies to support the industry, including trade protections and incentives to attract investment. Forecasts indicate a steady growth rate of 1.5% annually over the next decade, driven by Egypt’s expanding infrastructure projects and strategic geographic position as a trade hub.<ref name=steel/>