Egypt's ready-made garment sector has posted a stronger start to the year, according to fresh official data. The figures point to steady growth in one of the country's notable export industries during the opening months of the year.
The numbers come from a regular industry source. A monthly report issued by the Egyptian Export Council for Ready-Made Garments set out how the sector performed between January and April, giving a clear picture of its recent trajectory.
The headline figure shows an increase year on year. Total exports of the sector reached around 1.15 billion dollars between January and April this year, compared with more than 1 billion dollars in the same period last year.
One month stood out within that period. April recorded the largest monthly performance since the start of the year, with exports jumping to 287 million dollars, up from 260 million dollars in April last year, marking a 33 percent increase.
The growth was driven in large part by a familiar market. The United States remains the largest destination for Egyptian garments, underlining how important the American market is to the sector's export performance.
Sales to that market also climbed over the period. Exports to the United States rose to about 429 million dollars in the first four months of this year, compared with 379 million dollars a year ago, reflecting a 13 percent growth.
Taken together, the figures point to a sector expanding both overall and in its biggest market. The combination of higher total exports, a record month in April and stronger sales to the United States suggests momentum for Egypt's ready-made garment industry early in the year.