• Egypt, Africa’s top pharmaceutical producer and consumer, aims to raise exports by 39% to $466.5 million by 2029.
• The forecast follows a 65.6% rise in exports between 2019 and 2024, despite persistent drug shortages.
• Private firms drive sector growth, accounting for 93% of domestic pharmaceutical production.

Egypt aims to increase its pharmaceutical exports by 39%, reaching $466.5 million by 2029. The plan was made public via a May 12 statement from the Egyptian presidency quoting Fitch Solutions. This comes after a strong performance between 2019 and 2024, when these exports grew 65.6% to $447.1 million.

The country is Africa’s largest producer and consumer of pharmaceuticals, with a market valued at $56.6 billion, based on figures from the African Development Bank. While Egypt still faces occasional medicine shortages, it has been pushing for greater self-sufficiency, fewer supply gaps, and stronger export performance.

Fitch points to the creation of a regional hub for biotech manufacturing in Egypt as a major step forward. This new center is expected to boost domestic production and draw in more investment. Egypt currently has 179 factories making herbal drugs, veterinary medicine, and raw pharmaceutical materials, up from 170 in 2022.

The country has reached a self-sufficiency rate of 91.3% in medicine production. Of this, 93% comes from private companies, underlining the vital role of private investment in the sector’s growth.

Egypt’s commitment to growing its pharmaceutical industry can also be seen in large-scale efforts like Gypto Pharma, a medical city with a production capacity of 100 million units per year, and the Egyptian Drug Authority, which was created in 2019 to regulate the market.

Thanks to its strategic location, modern infrastructure, and skilled labor force, Egypt plays an increasingly important role in global pharmaceutical supply chains. The country not only serves its 109 million citizens, but also benefits from access to about two billion consumers worldwide, thanks to the Suez Canal Economic Zone and a network of free trade agreements across Africa, Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East.

In 2024, Egypt exported pharmaceuticals to over 147 countries, with Saudi Arabia, Spain, and Germany among its top partners. The projected rise in exports supports Egypt’s goal of becoming a regional pharmaceutical powerhouse.