Smart packaging is putting Egypt on the map: Packaging has become a core pillar in Egypt’s national industry and a key driver of product appeal in international markets. State-led initiatives and trade expos are positioning Egypt as a regional hub for modern, eco-friendly packaging. Events like Fi Africa and ProPak MENA showcase export requirements and cutting-edge technologies, reinforcing Egypt’s potential to become a regional hub for sustainable packaging industries and compete globally.

Packaging is now essential in supporting local industry and enhancing the competitiveness of Egyptian products globally, according to Chairman of the Printing and Packaging Export Council and Head of the Chamber of Printing and Packaging Industries Nadim Elias. Elias noted the significant role of packaging in product branding, marketing, and ensuring international market acceptance.

By the numbers: Packaging makes up around 7-10% of a product’s total cost, a percentage that directly impacts export opportunities. The printing and packaging sector contributed over USD 1 bn in direct exports in 2024, in addition to supporting various other industries indirectly, particularly food, pharma, and cosmetics, Elias said.

Packaging is especially important for food exports: Packaging has become a key factor in boosting the competitiveness of Egyptian food exports, which have already surpassed USD 10 bn annually, Chairman of the Food Industries Chamber Ashraf El Gazayerli said. He noted that advanced packaging technologies are no longer a luxury, but a necessity for international market access, especially amid growing global demand for clean label products and sustainable packaging.

Egypt has an edge: Egypt has recently advanced its local paper industry — especially duplex board and fluting paper — in a move that has improved local supply chains, contributed to cutting costs, and boosting the export capacity of packaging materials like corrugated cardboard and printed materials, according to Elias. Trade agreements with Europe and Arab countries offer a path to transform Egypt into a packaging and printing hub, while also enabling knowledge exchange and tech transfer to meet global standards, he said.

Packaging plays a central role in ensuring product safety and global market acceptance. Maintaining sustainable food supply chains is essential for national food security and for strengthening Egypt’s export capabilities, according to Industrial Modernization Center’s Elizabeth Kalishian.

China leads in raw materials: China remains a major supplier of raw materials, chemical components, and manufacturing machinery for the local packaging industry, Director of the ProPak MENA and Fi Africa exhibitions Mohamed Abdelhamid said. Chinese firms made up more than 20% of participants at this year’s exhibitions.

Aseptic packaging is changing the dairy game: Advanced packaging technologies are essential for ensuring the quality and safety of dairy products, especially milk. Aseptic packaging systems provide a solution for extending shelf life without refrigeration by packaging products in a sterile environment. According to Tetra Pak’s dairy processing guide, these systems preserve the nutritional content like proteins and vitamins by precisely controlling environmental factors such as temperature and light.

Sustainability is no longer optional: Global shifts in sustainability, food security, and carbon reduction have introduced new standards for manufacturers, pushing many companies to seek advanced technological solutions to meet these requirements, Abdelhamid told EnterpriseAM. He added that this year’s exhibitions feature workshops and scientific content to help attendees understand export regulations, especially for European markets, and connect with solution providers.

Packaging goes green: Incorporating sustainability into packaging through recyclable materials and reduced resource and energy consumption helps lower the carbon footprint of the final product. Packaging also needs to be visually appealing, easy to use, and capable of influencing consumer purchasing decisions.

New standards are in place: The Egyptian Organization for Standardization and Quality (EOS) has begun integrating sustainability requirements into its national standards, including recyclability, raw material environmental impact, and plastic reduction, in line with the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals, EOS‘s Hadeer Mostafa said. The authority also recently established an Environmental Performance Unit tasked with measuring emissions from factories and products and issuing internationally recognized environmental assessments.

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