Egipte flag Egipte: Visió econòmica i política

Xifres de comerç exterior d'Egipte

Foreign Trade in Figures

Trade represents 31% 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). The African continental free trade area (AfCFTA) was ratified by Egypt in 2019. Petroleum products (oil and gas) are the most traded items, both for imports and exports. Other important exports are gold, plastics, citrus fruit and nitrogenous fertilisers. Imports are driven by petroleum (as Egypt’s reserves are much less significant than those of other Gulf countries), machinery and mechanical appliances, cereals (the country imports around 40% of its food requirements according to FAO), cars, radio-telephony transmission tools, plastics and medicines (World Trade Organisation and International Trade Center).

In 2021, Egypt's main export partners are Turkey (6.5%), Italy (6.3%), India (5.7%), the U.S. (5.3%), and Saudi Arabia (4.9%); whereas exports came chiefly from China (13.55% of total imports), Saudi Arabia (8.4%), the United States (6.9%), Germany (4.4%) and Turkey (4.2% - data Comtrade).

The Egyptian economy has a structural trade deficit, which was estimated at 9.2% of GDP in 2021 (World Bank). In the same year, the country’s total exports of goods stood at USD 43.6 billion (+63.8% compared to one year earlier, thanks to an increase in the price of hydrocarbons), whereas imports reached USD 83.5 billion (+39.5% year-on-year). As for services, Egypt exported USD 21.9 billion (+52% y-o-y), importing USD 22.9 billion (+34% y-o-y – data WTO). According to figures from the Minister of Trade and Industry, Egypt’s total exports of goods surged 11% year-on-year during the first 11 months of 2022, totalling USD 32.5 billion. In early 2022, the Central Bank of Egypt implemented a new requirement indicating that all imports had to be processed under a bank letter of credit (excluding branches of foreign companies and their subsidiaries, as well as certain foodstuffs and pharmaceuticals). Nevertheless, such a requirement was abolished as of December 2022.

 
Foreign Trade Values 20172018201920202021
Imports of Goods (million USD) 61,62772,00070,91959,84383,503
Exports of Goods (million USD) 25,60427,62428,99326,63043,626
Imports of Services (million USD) 16,08217,83020,41517,12722,951
Exports of Services (million USD) 18,61322,91324,25314,37621,897

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

Foreign Trade Indicators 20172018201920202021
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP) 45.148.343.233.831.4
Trade Balance (million USD) -29,065-29,590-29,285-29,234-34,471
Trade Balance (Including Service) (million USD) -27,349-24,709-25,428-32,381-35,700
Imports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 52.510.6-8.9-17.90.2
Exports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 86.031.6-2.2-21.7-13.4
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 29.329.425.720.720.3
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 15.818.917.513.111.1

Source: World Bank ; Latest available data

Foreign Trade Forecasts 20222023 (e)2024 (e)2025 (e)2026 (e)
Volume of exports of goods and services (Annual % change) 30.10.92.87.74.3
Volume of imports of goods and services (Annual % change) 6.50.22.47.12.9

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)
2021
Türkiye 6.5%
Italy 6.3%
India 5.7%
United States 5.3%
Saudi Arabia 4.9%
See More Countries 71.2%
Main Suppliers
(% of Imports)
2021
China 13.6%
Saudi Arabia 8.5%
United States 6.9%
Germany 4.5%
Türkiye 4.2%
See More Countries 62.3%

Source: Comtrade, 2022. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.

 
 

Main Products

40.7 bn USD of products exported in 2021
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 14.8%
Petroleum gas and other gaseous hydrocarbonsPetroleum gas and other gaseous hydrocarbons 9.9%
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude 7.2%
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) 2.8%
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 2.7%
See More Products 62.6%
73.8 bn USD of products imported in 2021
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 5.2%
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude 5.1%
Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally...Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons, incl. station wagons and racing cars (excl. motor vehicles of heading 8702) 4.7%
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) 3.7%
Wheat and meslinWheat and meslin 3.3%
See More Products 78.1%

Source: Comtrade, 2022. 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, 2023. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.

Return to top

Vols fer algun comentari sobre aquest contingut? Escriu-nos.

 

© eexpand, Tots els drets reservats.
Actualitzacions: June 2023

Return to top