Egypt PMI drops to 46.6 in April

CAIRO - 5 May 2026: Egypt’s non-oil private sector showed weaker performance in April, as S&P Global’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) indicated a continued contraction in economic activity for the third consecutive month.

The headline PMI dropped to 46.6 in April from 48.0 in March, marking the sharpest contraction since January 2023 and remaining below the 50 mark that separates expansion from decline.

As a key gauge of non-oil private sector performance, a PMI reading below 50 signals a downturn in activity.

The decline was mainly driven by rising operating costs, persistent global supply chain disruptions, and softer demand both locally and internationally.

David Owen, Senior Economist at S&P Global, said that domestic economic activity slowed notably in April, while price pressures on Egyptian businesses intensified.

He added that output fell for the third consecutive month, recording its fastest decline since January 2023, due to weaker new orders, shortages in certain inputs, and increasing costs.

New export orders also saw their steepest drop since the first half of 2020, reflecting ongoing challenges in global trade.

In terms of pricing, input costs rose at their fastest pace since January 2023, prompting firms to increase selling prices at the quickest rate since August 2024 to offset higher fuel, import, and raw material expenses.