Egypt flag Egypt: Economic and Political Overview

Foreign trade figures of Egypt

Foreign Trade in Figures

Trade represents 40% of the country's GDP (World Bank). The Egyptian market has been gradually opening up, with the ratification of various free trade agreements, especially the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Petroleum products (oil and gas) are the most traded items, both for imports and exports. In 2023, petroleum and electricity were the main exports (USD 14 billion, 32.9% of the total), followed by ready-made garments (USD 2.3 billion, 5.4%), urea fertilizers (USD 2.1 billion, 4.9%), plastics and articles thereof (USD 2 billion, 4.7%), and natural gas (USD 1.95 billion, 4.6%). Non-oil imports fell 4.8% to USD 55.1 billion, while petroleum and electricity imports dropped 8.5% to USD 17.3 billion. Intermediate goods led with 36.3% of total imports, followed by investment goods (17.9%), fuel (14.6%), and consumer goods (12.5%). Key declines included iron and steel (-6.1% to USD 5.1 billion), plastics (-5.5% to USD 4.8 billion), wheat (-4.3% to USD 3.5 billion), and pharmaceuticals (-1.2% to USD 2.8 billion - data Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics).

In 2023, Egypt's main export partners were Türkiye (9.0%), Italy (7.5%), Saudi Arabia (6.4%), the United Arab Emirates (5.3%), the United States (4.6%), and Libya (4.3%); whereas imports came chiefly from China (15.6%), the United States (6.5%), Saudi Arabia (6.3%), Germany (4.9%), and Italy (3.9% - data Comtrade). In terms of port activity, the Alexandria Port led exports, handling 32% of the total, followed by Cairo International Airport with 14.8% and Suez Port at 14.4%. On the import side, Cairo International Airport accounted for 30.4%, Dekheila Port handled 13.9%, and Ain Sokhna managed 13.5% - data CAPMAS).

The Egyptian economy has a structural trade deficit, which was estimated at 2.2% of GDP in 2023 (from -6.8% one year earlier - World Bank). In the same year, the country’s total exports of goods stood at USD 39.8 billion (-22.2% compared to one year earlier amid lower hydrocarbon prices), whereas imports decreased to USD 78.9 billion (-17.5% year-on-year). As for services, Egypt exported USD 37 billion (+17.3% y-o-y thanks to the positive performance of the tourism sector), importing USD 19.7 billion (-22.1% y-o-y – data WTO). According to preliminary figures from the government, Egyptian exports reached a historic USD 40 billion in 2024.

 
Foreign Trade Values 20192020202120222023
Imports of Goods (million USD) 70,99160,48874,45395,67078,895
Exports of Goods (million USD) 29,00027,07841,31051,28039,853
Imports of Services (million USD) 21,19318,19923,12625,39819,767
Exports of Services (million USD) 25,05115,05321,89731,57437,047

Source: World Trade Organisation (WTO) ; Latest available data

Foreign Trade Indicators 20192020202120222023
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP) 41.132.129.937.040.4
Trade Balance (million USD) -29,285-29,234-34,471-27,024-25,690
Trade Balance (Including Service) (million USD) -25,428-32,381-35,700-20,848-14,047
Imports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) -8.6-18.70.524.31.1
Exports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) -2.7-23.7-13.857.331.4
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 24.519.719.321.921.3
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 16.612.510.615.119.1

Source: World Bank ; Latest available data

Foreign Trade Forecasts 20242025 (e)2026 (e)2027 (e)2028 (e)
Volume of exports of goods and services (Annual % change) -6.54.28.28.47.7
Volume of imports of goods and services (Annual % change) 9.72.812.711.112.2

Source: IMF, World Economic Outlook ; Latest available data

Note: (e) Estimated Data

 
International Economic Cooperation
Egypt is a member of the following international economic organisations: WTO, Arab Monetary Fund (AMF), ICC, Black Sea Economic Cooperation Zone (BSEC) (observer), G-15, G-24, G-77, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), IMF, Arab League, among others. For the full list of economic and other international organisations in which participates Egypt click here. International organisation membership of Egypt is also outlined here.
Free Trade Agreements
The complete and up-to-date list of Free Trade Agreements signed by Egypt can be consulted here.
 

Main Partner Countries

Main Customers
(% of Exports)
2023
Türkiye 9.0%
Italy 7.5%
Saudi Arabia 6.4%
United Arab Emirates 5.3%
United States 4.6%
See More Countries 67.3%
Main Suppliers
(% of Imports)
2023
China 15.6%
United States 6.5%
Saudi Arabia 6.3%
Russia 6.0%
Germany 4.9%
See More Countries 60.8%

Source: Comtrade, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.

 
 

Main Products

42.1 bn USD of products exported in 2023
Petroleum gas and other gaseous hydrocarbonsPetroleum gas and other gaseous hydrocarbons 6.5%
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude 6.1%
Mineral or chemical nitrogenous fertilisers (excl....Mineral or chemical nitrogenous fertilisers (excl. those in pellet or similar forms, or in packages with a gross weight of <= 10 kg) 4.4%
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals (excl. crude); preparations containing >= 70% by weight of petroleum oils or of oils obtained from bituminous minerals, these oils being the basic constituents of the preparations, n.e.s.; waste oils containing mainly petroleum or bituminous minerals 4.4%
Gold, incl. gold plated with platinum, unwrought...Gold, incl. gold plated with platinum, unwrought or not further worked than semi-manufactured or in powder form 4.3%
See More Products 74.3%
83.2 bn USD of products imported in 2023
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals (excl. crude); preparations containing >= 70% by weight of petroleum oils or of oils obtained from bituminous minerals, these oils being the basic constituents of the preparations, n.e.s.; waste oils containing mainly petroleum or bituminous minerals 7.8%
Wheat and meslinWheat and meslin 4.5%
Petroleum gas and other gaseous hydrocarbonsPetroleum gas and other gaseous hydrocarbons 4.0%
Medicaments consisting of mixed or unmixed...Medicaments consisting of mixed or unmixed products for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, put up in measured doses "incl. those in the form of transdermal administration" or in forms or packings for retail sale (excl. goods of heading 3002, 3005 or 3006) 3.9%
Maize or cornMaize or corn 3.0%
See More Products 76.9%

Source: Comtrade, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.

 
 

To go further, check out our service Import-Export Flows.

 

Main Services

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.

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Latest Update: February 2025