Sometimes you can feel it from the very first step… From the energy, the positive atmosphere, the effort… Stone Africa, held in Cairo, the capital of Egypt, made you feel from the moment it opened its doors for the first time that good things were going to happen. Stone Africa 2025, which took place on October 23–25, successfully passed its first test. In fact, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that it was the fair that received the most positive feedback from exhibitors this year. Let’s put our Egypt experience, along with the figures and details of the fair, on the table.
A NEW ROUTE FOR EXPORTERS
Actually, before talking about the fair, it’s necessary to talk a bit about Egypt. Why? Because for the past three years, Egypt has been on the lips of exporters… It started with the textile sector and has continued across different industries. Low production costs have become an escape route for manufacturers in Turkey who cannot foresee their future. In short, Egypt is now a critical stop. With that in mind, let’s begin with our observations. First of all, the Egyptian Pound and the Turkish Lira are almost on par. One Egyptian Pound corresponds to approximately 0.90 TL.
A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN DIESEL PRICES
The first thing that caught our attention on the day we arrived at the fair was fuel prices. In October, when diesel in Turkey was 52 lira, we encountered a price of 19 pounds in Cairo. When converted to TL, this corresponds to around 17.15 TL—about one-third of what is paid for one liter of diesel in Turkey. This is the situation regarding diesel, which is the biggest cost item in the natural stone sector. So, what about worker wages?
SURPRISING LABOR COSTS
In our conversations with our friends in Egypt, we learned that the minimum wage is 7,000 Egyptian Pounds. This corresponds to approximately 6,300 TL. Considering that the minimum wage in Turkey as of October is 22,104 TL, it can be said that Turkish producers shoulder nearly 3.5 times higher labor costs compared to Egypt. In fact, even Turkish officials working in Cairo explain the advantages of Egypt to exporters!
20,000 SQM OF INDOOR SPACE
Let’s move on to the fair… Stone Africa, which set out as the African expansion of the natural stone sector, was hosted by the Cairo International Convention Center. With 5,000 square meters of outdoor space and 20,000 square meters of indoor exhibition area, the venue offered exhibitors a boutique and welcoming atmosphere. While block marbles were exhibited in the outdoor area, processed products were showcased indoors.
VISITORS FROM 22 COUNTRIES
Let’s start with the overall figures of the fair… A total of 112 exhibiting companies took part in Stone Africa’s first edition. The number of visitors was announced as 6,015. Visitors from 22 countries attended the fair, with Egypt as the host country, alongside Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, China, India, Morocco, Libya, Somalia, South Africa, the UAE, Algeria, Tunisia, Nigeria, Ghana, Guinea, and Zambia, among others.
NATIONAL PARTICIPATION BY LEAD EXHIBITIONS
Now let’s turn to Turkey… The Turkish national participation organization at the fair was organized by Lead Exhibition. In this first edition, from which the majority of exhibitors left satisfied, a total of 29 companies from Turkey took part. We observed that Turkey made a strong showing, both to explore this new critical destination and to strengthen business connections in Egypt. It is also worth emphasizing the strong interest shown by machinery and consumables companies aiming to benefit from Egypt’s growing production momentum.
A MODERN MARBLE SHOW
Companies that are increasing their influence in Egypt’s natural stone sector also stood out with their colorful booths. Without a doubt, Modern Marble was at the forefront. Located at the most central point of the fair, Modern Marble made its mark on Stone Africa with a stand that reflected both its extensive production capacity and its identity as an importer. Kiro Marble also became one of the fair’s highlights with its distinctive objects and onyx room.
NO FAIR WITHOUT MARBLE TREND
Stone Africa was a different and new experience for us as well… We took our place at this new destination of the natural stone sector, distributed our magazine, and worked hard to convey the fair to you in the most accurate way. We have completed yet another organization where we stood by our words: there is no fair without Marble Trend.
FULL MARKS FROM EXHIBITORS
Let’s conclude with the opinions of the fair exhibitors… Firsts are always difficult and open to surprises. However, Stone Africa was described by almost everyone as a fair that exceeded expectations. Turkish exhibitors stated that the fair was quite successful thanks to its market-appropriate pricing and product policies. At a time when trade fairs are increasingly being questioned—from the largest to the most local—we can confidently say for Stone Africa: “It worked.” So then, see you in Cairo in 2026…
TURKISH EXHIBITORS
- Adaçal Mining
- Aytap Mining
- Batı Maden
- Bosmak Machine
- Brosmar Marble
- Çalışkanerler
- Danyal Marble
- Dima Marble
- DN Marble
- Dronemar Mining
- Efarge Machine
- Efeşen Machine
- Egarr Marble
- Emmioğlu Marble
- Erdek Elmas
- GMS Marble
- Gökyar Marble
- Hamman Mining
- Kütük Marble
- MAK Stone
- MKS Machine
- Netamar
- Sarp Marble
- Şenler Marble
- Sezgin Marble
- SMM Mining
- Stoness Marble
- TR Export
