Sharp expects to produce 300,000 refrigerators in Egypt in 2016

According to reports, Sharp has announced that it will commission local manufacturers in Egypt to produce Sharp refrigerators from August next year. It is estimated that the output will reach 300,000 units by 2016.

Previously, Sharp had produced refrigerators for export to the Egyptian market through its Thai factory. Based on considerations of freight reduction and local parts procurement to enhance price competitiveness, the company decided to switch supply methods and entrusted refrigerator production to EL-ARABY, one of Egypt’s three home appliance giants (EL-ARABY, BAHGAD Group, OLYMPIC Group). The latter will set up a special production line for Sharp's factory in northern Cairo.

Wu Xianjian, secretary-general of the National Consumer Electronics Channel Trade Union, said: “With the European debt crisis, the appreciation of the yen has intensified, coupled with the rising anti-Japanese sentiment in Mainland China, boycotting Japanese goods movements, Japanese household appliances with internal and external concerns have strengthened the market strategy in the Middle East and Africa. However, the fact that should not be overlooked is that the non-market in the Middle East has always been a strong market for Samsung and LG Korea’s household appliances, coupled with the unstable political situation in Egypt. The result of the soft crash is likely to cause Japanese household appliances to fall into another waterloo dilemma. ”