In 1888, a travel guide by the British publishing house John Murray described Maghagha as possessing one of the most important sugar factories in Egypt, with large tracts around the town being devoted to the cultivation of cane sugar, although the amount of sugar produced at the factory had diminished in recent years. There was a branch line connecting Maghagha to Aba al-Waqf and Beni Mazar; it was used to transport cane sugar to sugar mills during the harvest season.
In 1888, a travel guide by John Murray's British publishing house noted that Maghagha had one of Egypt's most important sugar factories, with significant land areas around the town allocated for growing cane sugar. The factory's production levels had declined in recent years. A railway branch connected Maghagha to Aba al-Waqf and Beni Mazar; it was used to transport cane sugar to mills during the harvest season.