Ain Sokhna Port moves to fully automated exports to fast-track shipments

The Egyptian Customs Authority officially rolled out its fully automated export system yesterday at Ain Sokhna port, with plans to gradually expand across all ports, a government official tells EnterpriseAM. The new system decouples export and import customs procedures, prioritizing outbound shipments to fast-track exports amid increased international demand for Egyptian goods as the war on Iran continues to disrupt global supply chains.

The fully digital platform replaces paper-based processes, which have historically caused clearance delays and increased the risk of manipulation. “The new system will integrate all relevant inspection authorities based on shipment type, bringing them onto a single system and significantly reducing the time required to secure approvals and complete export procedures,” the source said. With the launch, all exporters operating through Ain Sokhna are now mandated to obtain a Unified Consignment Reference for shipments intended for export.

Why this matters: If the government is to hit its ambitious USD 145 bn annual export target by 2030, it needs to make significant strides in making customs more efficient and less burdensome for exporters. The Finance Ministry is targeting customs clearance times of 48 hours, down from eight days currently, with a longer-term goal of achieving final clearance within hours.

One key advantage is faster payout of export subsidies. “The new system will allow for the immediate disbursement of export incentives […] instead of exporters waiting months to obtain manual approvals and paper documents before officially applying to the Export Support Fund,” the official tells us. This move is expected to significantly improve liquidity for manufacturers who previously faced a six-month wait for document auditing and disbursement.

The new system will eventually cover 130 customs locations and be linked to 32 government entities, including the Food Safety Authority and the General Organization for Export and Import Control. The source noted that the platform is part of the broader Nafeza system, which already includes more than 57.9k Egyptian import-export companies, alongside 445 shipping lines and around 2.9k customs clearance offices.

The system will not impose any additional fees beyond those already paid under Nafeza and will offer time-based incentives to bolster the competitiveness of Egyptian products in global markets.