Market Intel

CEM I & CEM II Cement + Clinker

Egyptian CEM I 42.5N & CEM II/A-L Portland cement and grey clinker under HS / GTIP 2523.29.00.00.11 — EN 197-1 certified, Mill Test Certificate per shipment, bulk FOB Damietta & Alexandria to Turkey and Mediterranean ports. Priced offers from the export desk.

HS Code 2523.29 — what it covers

The Harmonized System code 2523.29.00 classifies "Other Portland cement" — every Portland-type cement that isn't specifically separated under 2523.21 (white cement) or 2523.30 (aluminous cement). That makes it the catch-all code under which the bulk of global Portland cement trade moves, including:

CEM I 42.5 N / 42.5 R / 52.5 N

pure Portland clinker + gypsum, no supplementary materials

CEM II/A-S / II/B-S

Portland-slag cement, 6–35% blast furnace slag

CEM II/A-V / II/B-V

Portland-fly-ash cement, 6–35% siliceous fly ash

CEM II/A-L / II/B-L

Portland-limestone cement, 6–35% ground limestone

CEM II/A-M / II/B-M

Portland-composite, multiple supplementary materials

CEM IV / CEM V

pozzolanic and composite cements

For clinker (semi-finished, before gypsum + grinding), use 2523.10.00.

What Egyptian cement exports look like in 2026

Egypt has 76 million t/yr of cement capacity on 46 kiln lines (Cement Division of the Federation of Egyptian Industries, reported by Global Cement in October 2025). In 2025 the plants made about 65 million t, up 18 % from 55 million t, and the home market took 54 million t, up 13.4 % from 47.6 million t. Exports were about 18.5 million t, some 6 % lower than the year before — but the mix changed: finished cement exports rose 66.6 % to 12.5 million t while clinker fell sharply (CemNet, February 2026).

Two policy changes shape availability. In 2025 the government abolished the production quota system in force since 2021, and it capped exports at 30 % of each producer's output to keep the home market supplied. A buyer's allocation therefore depends on the producer's export headroom as well as on price — confirm it before fixing a laycan.

Where it goes, from customs data for 2024 (UN Comtrade via World Bank WITS — customs totals run below the industry's own export figures, so read them for direction, not volume):

Portland cement, HS 2523.29 — 3.06 million t:

Libya 1.30 million t, Israel 0.55, the Palestinian territories 0.42, Sierra Leone 0.23, Gambia 0.20, Ghana 0.14, Sudan 0.11, then the United States, Haiti, the United Kingdom and Spain.

Clinker, HS 2523.10 — 7.27 million t:

Côte d'Ivoire 2.02 million t, Ghana 1.59, Lebanon 0.47, Cameroon 0.42, Spain 0.34, Guinea 0.28, Senegal 0.24, Liberia 0.23.

West Africa buys Egyptian clinker for its own grinding plants; the eastern Mediterranean and Libya buy finished cement. For the comparison with the other Mediterranean origin, see Egyptian vs Turkish cement.

Market at a glance

Metric	Value	Source / year
Cement capacity	76 million t/yr on 46 lines	Federation of Egyptian Industries, Cement Division, via Global Cement, Oct 2025
Output	about 65 million t in 2025 (55 million t in 2024)	CemNet, Feb 2026
Domestic consumption	54 million t in 2025 (47.6 million t in 2024)	CemNet, Feb 2026
Exports	about 18.5 million t in 2025; finished cement 12.5 million t, up 66.6 %	CemNet, Feb 2026
Export rule	Exports capped at 30 % of each producer's output; production quota system abolished	Global Cement, Oct 2025
Largest cement destinations, 2024 customs data	Libya · Israel · Palestinian territories · Sierra Leone · Gambia · Ghana	World Bank WITS, HS 2523.29
Largest clinker destinations, 2024 customs data	Côte d'Ivoire · Ghana · Lebanon · Cameroon · Spain · Guinea	World Bank WITS, HS 2523.10
HS codes	2523.29.00 other Portland · 2523.10.00 clinker · 2523.21 white	HS nomenclature
Containerised lot	20' FCL 25–27 MT · 40' FCL 28 MT · MOQ 240 MT	EGG packing standard
Bulk vessel lot	2,000 MT (handysize partial) to 65,000 MT (Panamax full)	EGG vessel standard — vessel size guide
Quality document	Mill Test Certificate per lot before B/L	EGG QA procedure

Egypt Globe cement export specs

Grade	EN 197-1	ASTM C150	Typical 28-day MPa	SO₃ max	C₃A max	Use case
CEM I 42.5 N	I 42.5 N	Type I	42.5–52.5	3.5%	8%	General construction
CEM I 52.5 N	I 52.5 N	Type III adj.	52.5–62.5	3.5%	8%	High-strength, precast
CEM II/A-L 42.5 N	II/A-L 42.5 N	—	42.5–52.5	3.5%	8%	Cost-optimized general
SRC (Sulphate-Resistant)	I-SR 3 / I-SR 5	Type V	32.5–42.5	2.3%	0–5%	Marine, sewerage, sulfate soil
White Portland	II/A-LL White	White Type I	42.5+	3.5%	5%	Architectural, decorative

Every shipment ships with a Mill Test Certificate (MTC) showing chemical composition (CaO, SiO₂, Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃, MgO, SO₃, Cl⁻, alkalis), physical properties (Blaine fineness in cm²/g, initial + final set in minutes, soundness Le Chatelier in mm, 2-day + 7-day + 28-day compressive strength in MPa), and loss on ignition.

Loading ports for Egyptian cement

Damietta

(UN/LOCODE EGDAM) — primary cement export hub, dedicated cement berths, vessels up to Panamax (60,000+ DWT). Most West/East Africa shipments load here.

Alexandria

(EGALY) — secondary cement port, mainly for Mediterranean and Northern Europe lanes. Handysize and Supramax common.

Ain Sokhna

(EGSOK) — Red Sea side for Indian Ocean and Gulf destinations.

El Dekheila

(EGEDK) — adjacent to Alexandria, deep-water terminal good for larger vessels.

For containerized cement (1.5 MT super-sacks or 50 kg PP bags on pallets), 20' FCL = 25–27 MT, 40' FCL = 28 MT (volume-limited). Minimum order quantity for FCL is typically 240 MT (10×20' or 8.5×40'). For bulk vessels, MOQ starts at 2,000 MT (handysize partial) and goes up to 65,000 MT (Panamax full).

Supply options from EGG

Product	Grade / spec headline	Standard	MOQ
CEM I 42.5N — ordinary Portland cement	28-day 42.5–62.5 MPa, SO₃ ≤ 3.5 %, Blaine ≥ 3,000 cm²/g	EN 197-1 / ASTM C150 Type I	5,000 MT
CEM I 52.5N — high-strength OPC	2-day ≥ 20 MPa, 28-day ≥ 52.5 MPa	EN 197-1 / ASTM C150 Type III	3,000 MT
CEM II / B-M (S-LL) 42.5N	Slag 21–35 %, limestone 6–20 %	EN 197-1	3,000 MT
SRC — sulphate resistant cement	C₃A ≤ 3.5 %, SO₃ ≤ 2.3 %	ASTM C150 Type V / EN 197-1 SR3	3,000 MT
White Portland cement	Fe₂O₃ ≤ 0.5 %, whiteness ≥ 85 %	EN 197-1 (white)	250 MT
CEM IV / B (P) 32.5N pozzolanic	Pozzolana 36–55 %, low heat	EN 197-1	3,000 MT
Portland clinker 65 % C₃S · CEM I 52.5N	Clinker Blaine ≥ 310 m²/kg	EN 197-1 / ASTM C150	1,000 MT
Oilwell cement Class G	API Spec 10A HSR	API 10A	1,000 MT
Cement & clinker catalogue · construction applications · EN 197-1 · ASTM C150	—	—	—

Payment terms typical for cement export

30% advance T/T

+ 70% against copy of Bill of Lading — standard for new buyers

Irrevocable L/C at sight

confirmed by a first-class international bank — preferred for vessel shipments above 5,000 MT

CAD (Cash Against Documents)

for established trading relationships

Documents we provide per shipment

Commercial Invoice
Packing List
Bill of Lading (3/3 originals)
Certificate of Origin (Egyptian Chamber of Commerce, stamped)
Mill Test Certificate (MTC)
TÜV Austria / SGS / Intertek pre-shipment inspection (buyer's option)
Phytosanitary certificate (only if EU destination requires)
Fumigation certificate (containerized only)

QA and reliability

Egypt Globe Group positions itself as your verified, long-term supply-chain ally: incorporated 2014 with an internal Quality Assurance division at its nucleus, ISO 9001:2015 across all divisions, and uncompromising QA verification from extraction to destination port. Every lot is tested at the loading-port laboratory and the Certificate of Analysis or Mill Test Certificate is issued before the Bill of Lading; lots outside specification are rejected at the loading port, never re-graded or renegotiated. Independent inspection by TÜV Austria, SGS, Intertek or Bureau Veritas (all ISO/IEC 17020 + 17025) is available on every shipment, laycans are run with documented NOR / SOF, and the specification is guaranteed at the port of loading under the sales contract — see inspection & quality control, trade documentation and quality & compliance. For cement the chain runs mill → silo → port laboratory MTC per EN 197-1 / ASTM C150 → pre-shipment inspection → buyer laboratory; see the HS 2523 reference and the 2026 cement buyer's guide.

Sources

Global Cement, Update on Egypt, October 2025, 22 October 2025 — globalcement.com
CemNet, Egypt's cement production up 18% in 2025, 4 February 2026 — cemnet.com
World Bank WITS (UN Comtrade), Egypt exports 2024 — HS 2523.29 and HS 2523.10

Sourcing cement or clinker from Egypt?

Egypt Globe Cement Division ships CEM I 42.5N and 52.5N, CEM II, SRC and white Portland cement plus clinker under HS 2523.29. Start from the cement & clinker catalogue, or go straight to CEM I 42.5N and sulphate-resistant cement.

Verification:

a Mill Test Certificate per EN 197-1 or ASTM C150 is issued for every lot by the port laboratory before the Bill of Lading.

Order size:

240 MT FCL minimum or 2,000 MT bulk vessel, loading at Damietta, Alexandria, El Dekheila or Ain Sokhna.

Matching a type to an end use:

see construction applications before requesting the quote below.

Get a cement quote

Egypt Globe Cement Division ships under HS 2523.29 across all major export lanes. Priced offers from the export desk., CIF or FOB any port, minimum 240 MT FCL or 2,000 MT vessel.

For a buyer weighing the two Mediterranean origins, Egyptian vs Turkish cement puts specs, loading ports, trade data and CBAM side by side.

Request a Quote →

Priced offers

Ready for a quote?

FOB / CIF / CFR pricing from 7 Egyptian ports — turnaround once stock, laycan and freight are confirmed.

Request Quote

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Frequently asked questions

How big is Egypt's cement and clinker market?

Egypt has 76 million t/yr of cement capacity on 46 lines (Federation of Egyptian Industries). In 2025 it produced about 65 million t, used 54 million t at home and exported about 18.5 million t, of which 12.5 million t was finished cement, up 66.6 %. Exports are capped at 30 % of each producer's output.

Which products match Egyptian cement and clinker?

CEM I 42.5N — ordinary Portland cement, CEM I 52.5N — high-strength OPC, CEM II / B-M (S-LL) 42.5N, SRC — sulphate resistant cement, White Portland cement, CEM IV / B (P) 32.5N pozzolanic. CEM I 42.5N — ordinary Portland cement: 28-day 42.5–62.5 MPa, SO₃ ≤ 3.5 %, Blaine ≥ 3,000 cm²/g.

What assay can a buyer of Egyptian cement and clinker expect?

CEM I 42.5 N — EN 197-1 I 42.5 N · ASTM C150 Type I · Typical 28-day MPa 42.5–52.5 · SO₃ max 3.5% · C₃A max 8% · Use case General construction; CEM I 52.5 N — EN 197-1 I 52.5 N · ASTM C150 Type III adj. · Typical 28-day MPa 52.5–62.5 · SO₃ max 3.5% · C₃A max 8%; CEM II/A-L 42.5 N — EN 197-1 II/A-L 42.5 N · Typical 28-day MPa 42.5–52.5 · SO₃ max 3.5% · C₃A max 8% · Use case Cost-optimized general.

Other questions? Email our export desk — the export desk replies to every request.