Egypt’s strategic location, competitive production costs and proximity to regional markets are attracting textile and garment investment from China, Türkiye, Sri Lanka and other countries, according to Ammar Safoush Salloum, General Manager at Setraco Safoush Tex.
Speaking with Kohan Textile Journal during Egypt Stitch & Tex 2026 in Cairo, Salloum discussed Setraco Safoush Tex’s long-standing partnership with Terrot Textilmaschinen, the circular knitting machine displayed at the exhibition and Egypt’s growing potential as a textile manufacturing and export base.
Ammar Safoush Salloum on Terrot Technology and Egypt’s Textile Market
Could you introduce Setraco Safoush Tex and its partnership with Terrot Textilmaschinen?
Setraco Safoush Tex is a trusted partner of Terrot Textilmaschinen in Egypt and other Middle Eastern markets. Our relationship with Terrot dates back to 1969.
Terrot is a long-established German manufacturer of circular knitting machines with a history dating back to 1862. Through our local knowledge and Terrot’s technology, we support textile manufacturers seeking flexible and precise circular knitting solutions.
Which Terrot machine did you present at Egypt Stitch & Tex 2026?
At the exhibition, we presented a Terrot double-jersey interlock circular knitting machine with a 34-inch diameter, 108 feeders and a gauge of 24.
The machine is designed to produce double-face fabrics for sportswear, outerwear and various other textile applications.
Its configuration allows manufacturers to develop a range of fabric structures while maintaining the precision and consistency required for industrial production.
What differentiates Terrot from other circular knitting machinery manufacturers?
German engineering and the high precision of Terrot machines are among their principal distinguishing characteristics.
The machines are designed to be user-friendly and easy to adjust while offering flexibility across numerous applications. Manufacturers can use the same machine to produce different fabric types, helping them respond more effectively to changing customer requirements.
This combination of precision, flexibility and application diversity is important for knitting companies seeking to expand their product portfolios.
How do you assess the current Egyptian textile market?
Egypt’s textile market is particularly interesting at present. The country’s geographical location and competitive labour conditions provide significant advantages for textile and garment manufacturers.
Over the past two years, we have seen investors arriving from China, Türkiye, Sri Lanka and several other countries. Their interest is supported by factors including energy and labour costs and Egypt’s location in relation to regional and international markets.
These advantages are encouraging foreign companies to consider Egypt for new textile and garment manufacturing projects.
Read More: Egypt Stitch & Tex 2026: What the Exhibition Revealed About the Future of Egypt’s Textile Industry
Egypt’s Location Could Support Faster Regional Textile Exports
Why is Egypt well positioned as a textile export base?
Egypt’s location can provide shorter delivery times to customers in North Africa and other nearby markets. This has become particularly important as conflicts and shipping disruptions continue to affect international supply chains.
Some of our customers in Libya have compared the delivery times for mattress fabrics purchased from China with products shipped from Egypt. According to their experience, receiving goods from China can take approximately four months under difficult logistics conditions, while door-to-door delivery from Egypt may take around 12 days.
Delivery times naturally depend on the product, destination and prevailing shipping conditions. Nevertheless, the comparison demonstrates Egypt’s potential logistical advantage when supplying neighbouring markets.
Shorter lead times can help regional buyers manage inventories more efficiently and respond faster to market demand. For manufacturers, this is another important reason to establish textile production in Egypt.
What is your outlook for Egypt’s knitting and garment industries?
Egypt has the potential to expand its position across textile manufacturing, circular knitting and garment production.
The arrival of international investors indicates growing interest in the market. By combining competitive production conditions with modern machinery, flexible manufacturing and efficient regional logistics, Egypt can strengthen its role as both a production centre and an export platform.
Developing specialised fabrics for sportswear, outerwear, mattress ticking and other applications could also help Egyptian manufacturers compete through quality, flexibility and shorter delivery times rather than price alone.
Editor’s Note
This interview was conducted by Kohan Textile Journal during Egypt Stitch & Tex 2026 in Cairo. It highlights the importance of flexible circular knitting technology and regional delivery advantages as Egypt works to attract investment and expand textile exports to neighbouring markets.
