NEWS
Egypt Emerges Africa’s Manufacturing Powerhouse with $59.6bn Output in 2023, Nigeria Closes In at $55.7bn as DRC Overtakes Kenya in Continental Industry Rankings
Egypt has retained its position as Africa’s leading manufacturing nation, recording an impressive manufacturing output valued at $59.6 billion in 2023, reaffirming its dominance in the continent’s industrial landscape.
Closely trailing Egypt is Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, which posted a manufacturing output of $55.7 billion, underscoring the growing strength and resilience of its industrial sector despite persistent challenges such as infrastructure gaps, energy constraints and foreign exchange pressures.
South Africa, long regarded as one of the continent’s industrial heavyweights, occupies the third position with a manufacturing output valued at $48.8 billion, reflecting the country’s continued relevance as a major manufacturing hub in sub-Saharan Africa.
In a notable shift within the continental rankings, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has surpassed Kenya, signaling a changing dynamic in Africa’s manufacturing hierarchy. The development highlights the impact of expanding industrial activities and resource-based processing in the Central African nation, while also raising questions about the pace of industrial growth in East Africa’s traditionally strong economies.
The latest figures, released by intelpoint, paint a picture of a highly competitive African manufacturing space, where countries are increasingly investing in industrialization as a pathway to economic diversification, job creation and export expansion.
Analysts say Egypt’s sustained lead is driven by large-scale industrial zones, strong government backing for manufacturers, and a diversified production base spanning textiles, chemicals, construction materials, food processing and heavy industries.
Nigeria’s strong second-place showing reflects the size of its domestic market and the steady expansion of sectors such as cement, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, and consumer goods manufacturing. Experts note that with improved power supply, logistics infrastructure and policy consistency, Nigeria could potentially overtake Egypt in future rankings.
South Africa’s performance continues to be anchored by its advanced automotive, metal processing, machinery and chemical industries, although economic headwinds and energy supply challenges have tempered faster growth.
The emergence of the DRC ahead of Kenya underscores the growing importance of mineral beneficiation, industrial processing and value addition in shaping Africa’s manufacturing future.
Overall, the rankings reinforce the central role of manufacturing in driving Africa’s long-term economic transformation, as countries race to build competitive industries capable of meeting domestic demand and expanding their footprint in global markets.