[Egypt] Feeling The Heat

Egypt has three float glass manufacturers and one patterned glass producer, who produce around 2,140 tonnes of flat glass per day between them. Over the last few years, the government's focus on the housing sector, the setting up of new industrial zones and development plans along the Suez Canal corridor (post the revolution) have presented an excellent opportunity to Egyptian float glass producers to channel the sudden spurt in glass production towards these projects. However, the industry is in danger due to rising costs, foreign currency shortage, and the lack of some production inputs. This article examines how rising costs and a lack of foreign exchange threaten to undermine the potential recovery in Egypt's flat glass sector.