Rostom said the stronger growth reflected improved performance across several key sectors, particularly manufacturing, the Suez Canal and petroleum refining.
Egypt’s economy grew by 4.7% in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025/2026, bringing full-year GDP growth to 5.1%, up from 4.4% in FY2024/2025, Planning and Economic Development Minister Ahmed Rostom said during a Cabinet meeting on Thursday.
Rostom said the stronger growth reflected improved performance across several key sectors, particularly manufacturing, the Suez Canal and petroleum refining.
He noted that Egypt’s economy had maintained relatively strong and sustained growth over the past decade, apart from periods affected by major global crises.
Non-oil manufacturing was the largest contributor to GDP growth in the fourth quarter and across the full fiscal year.
The communications sector also continued to post strong growth, expanding by 24.3% in the fourth quarter and ranking as the second-fastest-growing sector during both the quarter and the full fiscal year.
The expansion was supported by higher revenues at Egyptian telecommunications companies, rising digital services exports, improved internet indicators and significant investment in digital infrastructure, strengthening the sector’s contribution to Egypt’s digital transformation and economic growth.
Suez Canal activity, the fastest-growing sector during the fourth quarter, continued its recovery, expanding by 33.8% during the quarter and 23.3% over the full fiscal year after contracting in the previous year.
Petroleum refining activity also recorded strong growth of 22.4% in the fourth quarter and 8.7% over the fiscal year, reversing the contraction recorded a year earlier.
Meanwhile, the extractive industries sector returned to positive growth for the first time since the second quarter of FY2022/2023, supported by an improvement in the performance of the oil and gas sectors.
Rostom said manufacturing, trade and communications together accounted for 48% of Egypt’s total economic growth during FY2025/2026.
Non-oil manufacturing maintained strong growth of 9% during the year, while petroleum refining expanded by 8.7%, compared with a 1.9% contraction in the previous fiscal year, supported by higher production and refinery maintenance activity.
The minister said the 5.1% full-year growth rate exceeded forecasts by international institutions.
