This is an overview of the Egyptian furniture industry, offering insights as to the market for various types of furniture and equipment involved in the manufacture of furniture, as well as Egyptian domestic production and export data. Furniture manufacturing is one of the most highly protected industries in Egypt. Egypt relies on foreign supplies for its material inputs to furniture production, both in terms of furniture-making machinery and equipment, and raw materials. Germany and Italy are the leading suppliers of finished furniture to Egypt. The furniture industry, dominated by the private sector, employs about half a million persons and consists of more than 30,000 companies of all types and sizes.
Some manufacturers export pre-specified material furniture to private label U.S. customers.
Generally, all but the newest factories lack adequate and current manufacturing technology, as well as lack of management training. Best sales prospects for U.S. suppliers to the furniture industry lie in the areas of wood for raw materials, woodworking machinery, intermediate products such as paints, varnishes, glues, metal fittings, woodworking electrical and non-electrical equipment, upholstery materials and plastics. Statistical data on the furniture market is lacking and access is limited. Existing available data is often unreliable. Although the wood furniture industry accounts for only a small fraction of the country's total industrial output, and this small share is even less than it was a decade ago, it remains a vital part of the economy.