Ezz Steel, Egypt’s largest steelmaker, is considering investment projects of around USD 1.1 bln over the next two years to expand production capacity, despite headwinds from global protectionist measures, its chief executive said.
Speaking to Al-Sharq on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, Ahmed Ezz said the domestic steel sector is facing pressures similar to those seen in Western markets, citing uneven global competition and the impact of state support for steel producers in China.
He noted that recent trade restrictions have weighed on the company’s export performance, with export value expected to fall below USD 1 bln this year after reaching about USD 1.6 bln in 2024.
Ezz said stronger domestic demand would be key to supporting sustainable growth in the steel sector, pointing to the need for increased activity in housing and infrastructure and closer regional cooperation within the Arab world.
On prices, he said the company implemented temporary price reductions in late 2025, followed by increases in January, although current prices remain below earlier levels. He added that steel prices have a broad impact on the Egyptian market, given the large number of end-users, while large-scale projects are generally less sensitive to short-term price movements.
Ezz Steel operates four fully integrated steelmaking plants in Egypt with a combined production capacity of 7 mln tons of flat and long steel products annually.
