Bel Egypt Company: €1.4 Billion in Exports Over the Past 15 Years

Bel Egypt Company

Bel Egypt Company: €1.4 Billion in Exports Over the Past 15 Years

Hani Aram, Regional Director of Bel Egypt and North East Africa, a cheese company, estimates the value of the company's exports from Egypt over the past 15 years at approximately €1.4 billion, noting that Egypt is a major export hub in the Middle East and North Africa region. Bel Egypt is a subsidiary of the French cheese company Bel, whose main products are Kiri, La Vache Qui Rit, and Abu El Walad cheese.

In an interview with CNN Economics, Aram said that the company has a factory in Egypt with an annual production capacity of 25,000 tons, approximately 80% of which is exported to 19 countries in the Middle East and North Africa region. Bel Egypt's annual exports amount to approximately €100 million, and the company's total exports over the past 15 years have reached approximately €1.4 billion, according to the company's regional director.

New Investments from Bel Misr

Aram stated that his company has invested €100 million in Egypt over the past 15 years, increasing the capacity of its factory in the 10th of Ramadan City, Egypt. The company plans to invest approximately €5.5 million in Egypt during 2025 and 2026 to expand its business in the country. Aram stated, "We added three new production lines in 2025, and we plan to invest €5.5 million during 2025 and 2026 to expand within Egypt."

Bel Misr has faced significant challenges over the past few years due to the successive economic developments in Egypt. Aram stated that since 2016, the company has faced economic conditions in Egypt due to the flotation of the Egyptian pound, followed by the spread of the coronavirus, the war in Ukraine, and even tensions in the Middle East.

Over the past two years, the company's production costs have increased by 70% due to the economic conditions Egypt has experienced, according to Aram. During 2023 and 2024, Egypt witnessed a significant increase in the dollar exchange rate against the Egyptian pound, causing a massive inflationary wave, with some commodity prices reaching record levels.

The regional manager of Bel Egypt said that his company was able to adapt to these conditions because it used its dollar proceeds to manage costs, allowing it to maintain unchanged prices for longer periods without losing its customers. He explained that the company was able to offer new products at lower prices to avoid losing market share, and is also preparing to launch lower-cost products starting at 5 Egyptian pounds by the end of 2025.