The S&P Global Egypt PMI rose to 49.6 in August 2026 from 46.8 in July, indicating the mildest deterioration in operating conditions since January as the non-oil private sector edged closer to stabilisation. Output and new orders continued to fall, but at slower rates, with the drop in new business the weakest since February amid signs of improving market activity. Employment increased for the first time since October 2025, with job creation registering its second-fastest pace on record.
In contrast, purchasing activity contracted at the steepest rate in nearly three years, as material shortages, cash-flow constraints, delayed payments, and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz weighed heavily on buying. At the same time, price pressures intensified for the first time since May, with both input costs and output charges rising at a quicker pace. Despite these headwinds, business confidence climbed to its highest level since June 2022, underpinned by expectations of new projects, growth in tourism, and the opening of new branches.
