Egypt’s competitive production costs, strategic location and rising inflow of foreign investment are strengthening its position as a textile manufacturing hub, according to Jilali Lakraa, Regional Sales Director at Oerlikon Barmag.
Speaking with Kohan Textile Journal during Egypt Stitch & Tex 2026 in Cairo, Lakraa discussed Oerlikon Barmag’s 45-year presence in the Egyptian market, its technologies for man-made fibre production and the growing importance of specialty yarns, recycling solutions and energy-efficient machinery upgrades.
Jilali Lakraa on Oerlikon Barmag’s Technologies and Egypt’s Textile Market
Could you introduce Oerlikon Barmag and the technologies presented at Egypt Stitch & Tex 2026?
Oerlikon Barmag participated in the exhibition with technologies from its Barmag and Neumag product brands.
Our portfolio covers several areas of textile manufacturing, including POY and FDY production, texturing, staple fibre and nonwoven technologies. We are also presenting solutions connected to recycling, including our VBE technology.
This year, we brought a strong team from Barmag China to Cairo. We are exhibiting at the ATAG booth alongside several other European technology suppliers.
Our main objective is to provide added value to textile manufacturers through technology, technical knowledge and long-term service.
How established is Oerlikon Barmag in the Egyptian market?
Oerlikon Barmag has been present in the Egyptian market for approximately 45 years.
Over this period, we have developed extensive experience and built close relationships with local textile manufacturers. Our objective is not simply to deliver machinery but to support customers throughout the life cycle of their investments.
Egypt is currently attracting new projects from domestic companies as well as investors from China and Türkiye. This is creating opportunities, although competition among technology suppliers is also becoming stronger.
To succeed in this environment, machinery manufacturers need to remain active in the market, understand customers’ requirements and respond quickly.
What response did you receive from visitors during the exhibition?
During the first two days of Egypt Stitch & Tex, we welcomed representatives from around 35 textile companies involved in areas such as texturing and carpet manufacturing. These included leading manufacturers such as Oriental Weavers.
We held productive discussions concerning recycling, new production technologies and the potential application of our VBE solutions.
The level of visitor interest demonstrates that manufacturers are actively examining how they can improve their production capabilities and move into higher-value product categories.
Why is Egypt becoming more attractive for textile investment?
Egypt offers several important advantages, including its geographical position, infrastructure and comparatively competitive energy, labour and land costs.
These conditions are encouraging international manufacturers to establish new production facilities in the country. Several Turkish companies are moving or expanding parts of their textile manufacturing activities in Egypt, while Chinese investors are also developing significant projects.
Vertical integration is becoming another important feature of these investments. During our visit to the TEDA area in Sokhna, we saw several Chinese textile projects operating and expanding in the market.
Egypt’s cost structure and access to international markets could therefore support its development as a major regional production and export base.
How can Egyptian manufacturers compete against large commodity producers?
Competition in commodity yarn markets has become extremely difficult, particularly because of the scale of production in China and India.
For this reason, manufacturers should consider moving toward specialty and higher-value products. In DTY production, for example, we are seeing growing interest in fancy yarns and effects such as cotton-like, wool-like, thick-and-thin and two-tone yarns.
Several customers entering these niche segments are performing well because they are creating differentiated products instead of competing exclusively on price.
Specialty yarn development can help Egyptian manufacturers strengthen their market position and serve customers looking for distinctive fabrics and applications.
How important is ATAG to Oerlikon Barmag’s activities in Egypt?
An important part of Oerlikon Barmag’s success in Egypt comes from the strength of our cooperation with ATAG.
We receive strong support from its sales and technical service teams. Our relationship with customers does not end after machinery is delivered and commissioned. Together with ATAG, we provide after-sales assistance and maintain a local support structure capable of responding rapidly to customer requirements.
Reliable after-sales service is particularly important because textile manufacturers need their machinery to operate continuously and efficiently. Providing that support requires qualified personnel, technical expertise and a long-term commitment to the market.
What distinguishes Oerlikon Barmag from other machinery suppliers?
One of our core values is the win-win principle. We aim to create long-term relationships based on trust and commitment.
Selling machinery is only one part of the process. We also train operators, transfer technical knowledge and help customers achieve high production efficiency.
We regularly visit customers, listen to their requirements and take the necessary action when a problem or opportunity is identified. Customers often approach us with complex questions, and our responsibility is to guide them toward the appropriate technology and production configuration.
The objective is to help customers achieve a faster return on investment while operating their machinery with the lowest possible operating expenditure.
Innovation, customer support and technical guidance are therefore central to our market approach.
Read More: Egypt Stitch & Tex 2026: What the Exhibition Revealed About the Future of Egypt’s Textile Industry
Machinery Upgrades Could Support Mills During the Downturn
How do you see the future of the textile industry amid the current global slowdown?
The textile industry is being affected by economic uncertainty and conflicts in different regions. Following approximately 15 to 16 years of strong market growth and major capacity expansion, the international industry has experienced a noticeable slowdown in recent months.
During difficult market conditions, machinery suppliers need to remain close to their customers. The immediate priority may not always be investing in entirely new production lines.
Upgrading existing machinery can help textile manufacturers improve efficiency, reduce electricity consumption and control operating costs. This could become an important area of activity while the industry works through the current downturn.
The market remains challenging, but manufacturers that improve efficiency and develop specialized products will be better positioned for the next stage of growth.
Editor’s Note
This interview was conducted by Kohan Textile Journal during Egypt Stitch & Tex 2026 in Cairo. The conversation highlights Egypt’s growing appeal to Chinese and Turkish textile investors, as well as the increasing importance of specialty yarns, recycling technology, energy efficiency and reliable local technical service.
