The Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) said non-banking financing extended to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by companies and associations under its supervision reached EGP 25bn in January 2026, up from EGP 16.2bn a year earlier, an increase of EGP 9.8bn.
The number of beneficiaries rose to around 16,400, compared to approximately 11,300 in January 2025. Women accounted for the vast majority of recipients, representing 89.82% of total financing, while men made up 10.18%.
Sectoral distribution showed that the commercial sector captured the largest share of SME financing at 60.51%, followed by services at 20.93%, the productive sector at 14.83%, and agriculture at 3.7%.
Consumer finance expands
In a related development, the FRA reported that consumer finance companies provided EGP 8.493bn in January 2026, up from EGP 5.543bn in the same month last year, marking an increase of EGP 2.95bn.
The number of beneficiaries surged to approximately 1.23 million clients, compared to 761,400 a year earlier.
Electrical appliances and electronics accounted for the largest share of consumer financing at 25.5%, followed by car and vehicle purchases at 15.9%, consumer goods financed via cards at 15.4%, and household appliances at 9.1%.
Leasing activity strengthens despite fewer contracts
Financial leasing activity also recorded solid growth, with the value of contracts reaching EGP 14.963bn in January 2026, compared to EGP 10.433bn a year earlier, an increase of EGP 4.53bn.
However, the number of contracts declined to 148 from 191 in January 2025, indicating a shift towards larger-ticket transactions.
The real estate and land sector dominated leasing activity, accounting for 69.75% of total financing. It was followed by machinery and equipment at 14.86%, transport vehicles at 8.09%, passenger cars at 4.94%, and production lines at 0.76%.
Mortgage finance grows as contracts decline
Mortgage financing also expanded, with total financing reaching EGP 2.908bn in January 2026, up from EGP 2.293bn a year earlier, an increase of EGP 615m.
Despite the increase in value, the number of mortgage contracts declined to 1,043, compared to 1,544 in the same period last year.
Purchased portfolio clients accounted for EGP 1.326bn of total mortgage financing, while individual clients represented EGP 1.582bn.
By income segment, clients earning more than EGP 3,500 per month accounted for the largest share of total mortgage financing, amounting to EGP 2.908bn.
