Eng. Khaled Hashem:
1. Carbon black production is a strategic intermediate and feeder chemical industry within the local manufacturing ecosystem; it serves as a key input for sectors such as automotive tires, rubber products, plastics, inks, and paints.
2. The Ministry is committed to deepening the carbon black industry and increasing production in accordance with the highest global environmental and technological standards, thereby helping to meet growing domestic market demand.
3. The vehicle tire industry is a vital complementary sector within Egypt’s industrial strategy; it contributes to deepening local manufacturing, strengthening supply chains for automotive feeder industries, and reducing reliance on imports.
4. The Ministry stands ready to support companies in aligning with industrial decarbonization goals—particularly as global markets increasingly adopt sustainability standards—to ensure the continued competitiveness of Egyptian exports.
Eng. Khaled Hashem, Minister of Industry, accompanied by Eng. Ayman Attia, Governor of Alexandria, inspected two plants in Amriya producing carbon black and commercial tires to assess production operations. The Minister was joined on the tour by Eng. Mohamed Zada, Assistant Minister of Industry for Strategic Industries; Major General Ihab Amin, Head of the Industrial Control Authority; and Dr. Nermin Abu El-Ata, Advisor to the Minister of Industry for Sustainable Development. The Minister began his tour by inspecting the Birla Carbon Egypt plant, which spans an area of 165,000 square meters with investments totaling $526 million and a capital of $16 million. The facility has an annual production capacity of 250,000 tons; the company exports at least 80% of its output to over 27 countries across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, while providing 450 direct and indirect job opportunities. Upon his arrival, the Minister was received by Dr. Samah Shawky, the company’s Managing Director and President. During the tour, he inspected a mini-exhibition showcasing manufacturing equipment models, the product quality laboratory, five production lines, the control and operation rooms for the advanced manufacturing process, the reactor area, and the container loading station.
The Minister listened to a briefing by company officials regarding its establishment in Egypt in 1994. It was the first carbon black manufacturing facility in Egypt and the Middle East and ranks among the world's largest manufacturers and suppliers of high-quality carbon black. It is also one of the major plants within the global Birla Carbon organization. Birla Carbon Egypt is a global leader in the manufacture and supply of carbon black and advanced carbon-based materials, currently contributing approximately 8% to 10% of the total global production of the Birla Carbon group.
During the visit, Minister of Industry Engineer Khaled Hashem emphasized that the carbon black industry is a strategic intermediate and feeder chemical industry within the local manufacturing ecosystem. It serves as a key input for major industrial sectors—foremost among them the manufacture of vehicle tires, rubber products, plastics, inks, and paints. The Minister noted that the Ministry attaches great importance to deepening this specialized industry and increasing both production and local content in accordance with the highest global environmental and technological standards, thereby helping to meet growing domestic market demand and facilitate exports. The Minister concluded his tour by visiting the Prometeon Tyre Egypt plant (producing truck and bus tires), which spans an area of 300,000 square meters and boasts an annual production capacity of 1.2 million tires. The company exports over 70% of its annual output to Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, while providing 2,154 direct and indirect jobs. Upon his arrival, the Minister was received by Mr. Francesco Antonacci, CEO of Prometeon Egypt (Africa and Middle East Region), and Engineer Ahmed El-Zawahry, General Manager of Plants. During the tour, the Minister visited the Research and Development building to inspect the wire and chemistry laboratories, as well as the mixing and preparation lines, the tire-building machine, and the curing press facility. Prometeon officials provided an overview of the company’s establishment in 2016. It currently ranks among the leading commercial tire manufacturers in the Middle East and Africa, producing seven distinct brands and offering premium solutions. The company meets approximately 30% of the Egyptian market's demand for heavy-duty transport tires by providing a comprehensive product range tailored to local applications. It is also committed to environmental stewardship, water treatment, and irrigation management; the factory grounds feature 19,000 square meters of green space, process 500 cubic meters of water daily, and recycle 19 tons of carbon dioxide annually. Furthermore, Prometeon operates the first R&D center for truck and bus tires in Africa and the Middle East within Egypt. Accredited by the National Accreditation Council, the center is equipped with chemical, physical, and steel testing laboratories that support global development projects and market-specific innovation. The company’s 2030 sustainability model focuses on energy efficiency and emission reductions, positioning Prometeon Egypt as a key contributor to the region's industrial growth. The presentation also highlighted the company's efforts in providing practical factory training for approximately 700 workers, as well as training programs for engineering students.
Hashem stated that the vehicle tire industry is a vital component of Egypt's industrial strategy. It contributes to deepening local manufacturing and strengthening supply chains within the automotive feeder industries, thereby increasing local content, reducing import reliance, boosting production and exports, and enhancing the competitiveness of Egyptian products and their access to global markets. The Minister indicated the Ministry's readiness to provide support to companies regarding alignment with industrial decarbonization goals, particularly given the growing global markets are increasingly adopting sustainability standards and carbon-related regulations; this necessitates maintaining the competitiveness of Egyptian exports by accelerating the transition toward cleaner, resource-efficient production systems.
Alexandria Governor Ayman Attia emphasized the governorate's strong commitment to supporting the industrial sector and fostering a favorable investment climate. This aligns with state directives to deepen local manufacturing, increase local content, and support productive sectors. He noted that Alexandria—with its robust industrial base, ports, and strategic location—stands as one of Egypt’s most vital industrial and logistical hubs.
Speaking during a tour alongside the Minister of Industry, the Governor added that the governorate is coordinating closely with the Ministry of Industry and all relevant stakeholders to overcome challenges facing investors and factories and to expedite procedures for industrial projects. He stressed that the ultimate goal is to safeguard existing investments and attract new ones, thereby boosting production and exports while creating more job opportunities for the people of Alexandria.
Meanwhile, Mr. Francesco Antonacci, CEO of the Africa and Middle East region at Prometeon Egypt, affirmed that the desired industrial transformation requires a long-term strategic vision, sustained investment, and the ability to combine global expertise with promising local capabilities. Egypt serves as a key manufacturing and export hub for the Prometeon Group; the plant’s investments in advanced technology, industrial localization, and research and development—driven by ongoing dialogue with national institutions—enhance the company’s operational competitiveness. The company takes pride in contributing to the development of a more integrated industrial ecosystem, thereby solidifying Egypt’s position as a central hub for the Group’s regional manufacturing and global supply chains.
