Egypt

2024 Report

Full data release with tables here.

Introduction 

In 2024, Egypt was the world’s 4th-ranked producer of direct-reduced iron (DRI), accounting for 4.9% of the world’s output; tied for 7th-ranked producer of phosphate rock, accounting for an estimated 2.2%; the 8th-ranked producer of ammonia, accounting for 2.5%; the 10th-ranked producer of cement, accounting for an estimated 1.4%; and the 21st-ranked producer of salt, accounting for an estimated 0.8%. Egypt ranked third in phosphate rock reserves after Morocco and China. Other mineral commodities produced in Egypt included ammonium nitrate, aluminum (primary and secondary), clays (bentonite and kaolin), refined copper, ferroalloys (ferromanganese and ferrosilicon), gold, gypsum, iron ore, lime, manganese, mica, phosphoric acid, quartz, sand and gravel (unspecified), steel, sulfuric acid, and talc and related materials (Production table; Jasinski, 2025, 2026; World Steel Association, 2025, p. 19; Brioche, 2026; Hatfield, 2026; MacGregor, 2026). 

Minerals in the National Economy 

In 2024, Egypt’s real gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 2.4% compared with an increase of 3.8% in 2023. The country’s nominal GDP decreased to \$383 billion in 2024 from \$394 billion in 2023. In the fiscal year 2023/2024 (July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024), the most recent period for which data were available, the share of nonpetroleum mineral sector was 1.4% of GDP (American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt, 2025, p. 1; International Monetary Fund, 2026). 

Government Policies and Programs 

The legislative framework for the mineral sector in Egypt is provided by the Mineral Resources law No. 198 of 2014 and its amendment, law No. 145 of 2019, and the Executive Regulations No. 108 of 2020. The Egyptian Mineral Resources Authority (EMRA) under the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources oversees country’s mineral industry and is responsible for the administrating mining companies and issuing exploration and exploitation mining licenses. Licenses are granted by Governorates for quarries and salt pans. More-extensive coverage of Government policies and programs can be found in previous editions of this chapter in the U.S. Geological Survey Minerals Yearbook, volume III, Area Reports—International—Africa and the Middle East, which are available at https://www.usgs.gov/centers/national-minerals-information-center/afric… (Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, 2014, 2019; United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, 2020). 

Production 

Data on mineral production are in the Production table (formerly table 1). 

Structure of the Mineral Industry 

The mineral industry of Egypt included private, public, and Government-owned companies. Some international companies formed joint ventures with local public and Government-owned companies to explore and develop mineral resources. Foreign companies involved in Egypt’s mining sector included Heidelberg Materials AG of Germany and AngloGold Ashanti Ltd. of the United States. Government-owned companies included El-Arish Cement Co., Misr Beni Suef Cement Co., and El-Nasr for Fertilizers & Chemical Industries Co. (SEMADCO), which owned a significant portion of the phosphates and fertilizer industry. The Facilities table (formerly table 2) is a list of major mineral industry facilities. 

Minerals Trade 

In 2024, Egypt’s total goods exports were \$45.6 billion, and its major export partners were Saudi Arabia (received \$3.5 billion of Egypt’s goods exports), Turkey and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) (\$3.4 billion each), Italy (\$3.2 billion), and the United States (\$2.3 billion).¹ The primary mineral exports were mineral products (\$7.0 billion), base metals and articles thereof (\$5.0 billion), pearls, precious and semiprecious stones and articles thereof (\$3.4 billion), and products of stone and cement (\$1.5 billion) (Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics, 2025, p. 472, 482). 

In 2024, Egypt’s total goods imports were \$95.7 billion and its major import partners were China (supplied \$15.9 billion of Egypt’s goods imports), Saudi Arabia (\$8.0 billion), the United States (\$7.8 billion), Russia (\$6.2 billion), Germany (\$4.4 billion), and Brazil (\$4.3 billion). The primary nonfuel mineral imports were mineral products (\$18.6 billion), base metals and articles thereof (\$11.0 billion), and products of stone and cement (\$563 million) (Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics, 2025, p. 474, 483). 

Commodity Review 

Gold.—In 2024, Egypt’s gold production was an estimated 17,000 kilograms (kg), a decrease from 17,400 kg (estimated) in 2023. The only active commercial gold mine in the country was the Sukari gold mine, which produced 14,100 kg in 2024. Centamin plc, owner of the Sukari Mine, was wholly acquired by AngloGold Ashanti plc (Ashanti) of the United States in November 2024. The Sukari Mine had a designed production capacity of 16,000 kilograms per year of gold and had confirmed gold reserves of 193,000 kg and AngloGold had been developing additional gold reserves of 134,000 kg (Facilities table; Production table; AngloGold Ashanti plc, 2025, p. 4, 6, 33; Yahya, 2025). 

Iron and Steel.—In 2024, Egypt produced 7.07 million metric tons (Mt) of DRI, a decrease from 7.22 Mt (estimated) in 2023; Raw steel production increased to an estimated 10.7 Mt from 10.4 Mt (estimated); Hot-rolled steel products output, which included flat and long steel products, increased to 11.6 Mt (estimated) from 10.8 Mt (estimated); Wire rod steel products increased to 1.51 Mt (estimated) from 1.33 Mt (estimated) (Production table). 

Egypt’s exports of iron and steel (Harmonized System Code 72) from Egypt increased by 8.7% to \$2.23 billion, and imports of iron and steel from the world increased by 21% to \$5.18 billion. The increase in imports was mainly attributable to infrastructure megaprojects, including a \$35-billion investment of the UAE in Ras El-Hekma new city development, increased FDI facilitating clearance of backlog shipments at key ports, and a strategic accumulation of essential raw materials amidst declined global price (Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Co. PJSC, 2024; SteelRadar, 2024; United Nations, 2026)  

Nitrogen.—In 2024, the natural gas supply to chemical and fertilizer plants in the country shut down temporarily to meet the electricity demand owing to severe heatwaves. Egypt’s production of ammonia (N content) decreased to 3.9 Mt (estimated) from 4.5 Mt (estimated) in 2023. Total ammonia capacity for 2024 was 4.8 Mt/yr. Egypt’s major ammonia export partners were in north Africa and the Middle East, such as Jordan (received 16% of total 617,000 metric tons); Israel, Spain, and Tunisia (13% each); and Bulgaria and Morocco (11 % each). In 2024, approximately \$37-billion investment in ammonia industry of Egypt was on-going; the \$11-billion Project Ra in the East Port Said, Port Said Governorate by the Government and DAI Infrastruktur GmbH of Germany, which would offtake 85% of its total production capacity, was expected to produce ammonia by late 2028; Ocior Energy Holding Ltd. of India signed framework agreement with the Government-controlled entities to produce 100,000 t/yr of ammonia by 2028 as phase 1 and additional 900,000 t/yr by 2030 as phase 2 at the Suez Canal Economic Zone (Facilities table; Production table; Abdallah and others, 2024; Atchison, 2024; Ocior Energy Holding Ltd., 2026; United Nations, 2026). 

Urea (N content) production decreased to an estimated 2.9 Mt from an estimated 3.2 Mt in 2023. Urea net export partners were in Europe, such as Turkey (18% of total 3.2 Mt), Spain (13%), France and Italy (12% each), and Romania (8%). Other nitrogen commodities that Egypt produced in 2024 included ammonium nitrate, calcium ammonium nitrate, and nitric acid (Facilities table; Production table; United Nations, 2026).  

Phosphate Rock.—In 2024, Egypt ranked third in phosphate rock reserves after Morocco and China. Production of phosphate rock in the country was estimated to be 5.3 Mt in 2024, unchanged from 2023. Phosphate rock net export partners were in Asia, such as India (35% of total export of 4.6 Mt), Indonesia (26%), China (14%), and Malaysia (8%). In June, the EMRA, East Gas Co., and IMEX International limited signed a \$250 million shareholders’ agreement to enhance added value of low-grade phosphate ore; elevate the phosphate concentrate more than 37% (phosphorous pentoxide content); establish a new company to produce 1 Mt/yr of phosphate  (Facilities table; Production table; Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, 2024; Jasinski, 2025, 2026; Trade Data Monitor LLC, 2026). 

References Cited 

• Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Co. PJSC, 2024, ADQ-led consortium to invest USD 35 billion in Egypt: Abu Dhabi. United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Co. PJSC, February 23. (Accessed July 6, 2026, at https://www.adq.ae/newsroom/adq-led-consortium-to-invest-usd-35-billion….) 

• Abdallah, Nayera, Awadalla, Nadine, and Choukie,r Jana, 2024, Egyptian fertilizer plants shut down temporarily due to gas supply pressures: Thomson Reuters, June 5. (Accessed July 6, 2026, at https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/egyptian-fertilizer-plants-shut….) 

• American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt, 2025, Unlocking Egypt’s mining potential—Enhancing access to opportunities and investment in the mining sector: Giza, Egypt, American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt, 10 p. (Accessed March 30, 2026, at https://web.archive.org/web/20260330225703/https://www.amcham.org.eg/bi….) 

• AngloGold Ashanti plc, 2025, Annual report 2024: Greenwood Village, Colorado, AngloGold Ashanti plc, 264 p. (Accessed March 31, 2026, at https://reports.anglogoldashanti.com/24/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/AGA-….) 

• Atchison, Julian, 2024, \$37 billion in Egyptian ammonia investments: Ashburn, Virginia, Ammonia Energy Association, July 15. (Accessed July 6, 2026, at https://ammoniaenergy.org/articles/37-billion-in-egyptian-ammonia-inves….) 

• Brioche, A.S., 2026, Nitrogen (fixed)—Ammonia: U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, p. 136–137. 

• Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics, 2025, Statistical yearbook, 2025: Cairo, Egypt, Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics, 635 p. (Accessed June 3, 2026, via https://www.capmas.gov.eg/publications/166.) 

• Hatfield, A.K., 2026, Cement: U.S. Geological Survey Minerals Commodity Summaries 2026, p. 62–63. 

• International Monetary Fund, 2026, World economic outlook database, Egypt, GDP, current prices, US Dollar, GDP constant prices, percent change, annual 2019–2025: Washington, DC, International Monetary Fund. (Accessed March 30, 2026, via https://data.imf.org/en/Data-Explorer?datasetUrn=IMF.RES:WEO(9.0.0)).)&…;

• Jasinski, S.M., 2025, Phosphate rock: U.S. Geological Survey Minerals Commodity Summaries 2025, p. 134–135.  

• Jasinski, S.M., 2026, Phosphate rock: U.S. Geological Survey Minerals Commodity Summaries 2026, p. 142–143.  

• Macgregor, JohnRyan, 2026, Salt: U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, p. 160–161.  

• Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, 2014, Presidential Decree—Law No. 198 of 2014: Cairo, Egypt, Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, 14 p. (Accessed March 30, 2026, at https://web.archive.org/web/20241119113828/https://www.petroleum.gov.eg….) 

• Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, 2019, Law no. 145 of 2019: Cairo, Egypt, Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, 11 p. (Accessed March 30, 2026, at https://web.archive.org/web/20240827234531/https://www.petroleum.gov.eg….) 

• Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, 2024, Establishing a company to maximize the added value of low-grade phosphate ores: Cairo, Egypt, Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, June 11. (Accessed July 7, 2026, at https://www.petroleum.gov.eg/en/media-center/news/news-pages/Pages/mop_….) 

• Ocior Energy Holding Ltd., 2026, Projects: Uttar Pradesh, India, Ocior Energy Holding Ltd.  (Accessed July 6, 2026, via https://ociorenergy.com/projects/#egypt.) 

• SteelRadar, 2024, Egypt’s iron and steel industry faces contrasting trends in 2024: SteelRadar [Izmir, Turkey], July 22. (Accessed July 6, 2026, at https://www.steelradar.com/en/haber/egypts-iron-and-steel-industry-face….) 

• Trade Data Monitor LLC, 2026, Trade Data Monitor: Geneva, Switzerland, Trade Data Monitor database. (Accessed March 31, 2026, via https://tradedatamonitor.com/.) 

• United Nations, 2026, United Nations Comtrade database 2026: New York, New York, United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs. (Accessed March 31, 2026, via https://comtradeplus.un.org/.) 

• United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, 2020, Egyptian Mineral Resources Authority: Beirut, Lebanon, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia. (Accessed March 30, 2026, at https://archive.unescwa.org/egyptian-mineral-resources-authority.) 

• World Steel Association, 2025, World steel in figures: Brussels, Belgium, World Steel Association, 30 p. (Accessed March 28, 2026, at https://web.archive.org/web/20250701193305/https://worldsteel.org/wp-co….) 

• Yahya, Marwa, 2025, Egypt’s Sukari Mine produces 454,000 ounces of gold in 2024: The Star [Petaling Jaya, Malaysia], May 16. (Accessed March 31, 2026, at https://web.archive.org/web/20250721165319/https://www.thestar.com.my/n….)