Egypt’s exports of iron and steel surged by 197% to $1.097 billion in the first eight months of 2021, compared to $369 million in the corresponding period a year earlier, the Middle East News Agency (MENA) reported.

A total of 76 countries received Egypt’s exports of iron and steel during the January-August period, nine of which acquired 83.4% of the total exports, Export Council for Building Materials, Refractory, and Metallurgy Industries said in its monthly report on Tuesday.

Italy topped Egypt’s exports of iron and steel with a value of $269.285 million or 24.5%, followed by Spain with $258.587 million or 23.5% and Saudi Arabia with $100.503 million or 9.1%.

Meanwhile, the country’s cement exports jumped by 198% to $281 million in the eight-month period ended 31 August, compared to $94 million in the year-ago period.

Libya was the largest importer of Egypt’s cement with a value of $45.296 million or 16.1%, followed by Côte d’Ivoire with $44.935 million or 15.9% and Ghana with $36.991 million or 13.1%.