• Egypt plans mobile phone exports from 2026, targets 15 million devices

• Strategy builds local ICT manufacturing; 40% value-added, 15 brands onboard

• Global smartphone growth offers opportunity despite forecast 2026 shipment dip

Egypt aims to begin exporting locally produced mobile phones to international markets starting in 2026, the country's communications minister said. It plans to manufacture 15 million devices for that purpose, up from a planned 10 million in 2025.

Minister of Communications and Information Technology Amr Talaat said the initiative is part of a strategy to boost digital exports and build a domestic ICT manufacturing base. He was speaking to accredited military attachés at the Institute of Intelligence and Security Studies.

Talaat said the 10 million devices to be produced this year will incorporate a local value-added rate of 40%. He also said Egypt has succeeded in attracting 15 international mobile phone brands for local production, as part of a broader strategy to shift the ICT sector toward production and exports.

The move comes as the global smartphone market continues to grow. According to Research Nest, its value is projected to reach $1.12 trillion by 2035, up from $609.2 billion in 2025, supported by global supply chains and assembly networks. This growth follows a post-COVID-19 rebound after logistics disruptions and reduced consumer spending in 2020.

Separately, the GSMA estimates that 250 million people adopted a smartphone in 2024, bringing the total number of users to 4.4 billion, or 54% of the global population. However, the organization notes that of the 3.1 billion people covered by mobile broadband networks but not subscribed to mobile internet, nearly a third own a device but cannot, or do not know how to, access the internet, while the remaining 2 billion have no device at all.

While these indicators suggest opportunities for smartphones produced in Egypt, the international market also presents challenges. The International Data Corporation (IDC) anticipates a 0.9% decline in global smartphone shipments in 2026, due to component shortages and product cycle adjustments. The institute adds that the persistent global memory shortage is expected to constrain supply and push prices higher, affecting entry-level and mid-range Android smartphones more severely, as they are more sensitive to price changes.

Isaac K. Kassouwi