Egypt’s trade deficit rose 20.2% y-o-y in 2024 to record USD 50 bn, according to state statistics agency Capmas data (pdf). Exports rose 6.5% y-o-y to USD 45.3 bn, while imports climbed up 13.2% y-o-y to USD 95.3 bn.

It's shaky everywhere, even on a global scale. Trade policy uncertainty “has escalated to unprecedented levels,” driven by industrial policy, rising competition for raw materials, and concerns over trade imbalances, according to UNCTAD’s latest Global Trade Update (pdf). To build resilience to the trend of growing uncertainty, export markets need to diversify and actively participate in international agreements, the report warned.

Alexandria Port stood out as Egypt’s top operating port, accounting for some 31.1% of total exports and 22.1% of total imports last year. This was followed by Cairo’s airports — which sent out 14.8% of exports and received 20.8% of total imports. Ain Sokna Port followed in the way of imports, hauling in 12.3%, while the Tenth of Ramadan Dry Port came in third in terms of exports, having sent out 10.4% of exports last year.

A closer look: Non-oil exports rose 14.4% y-o-y to USD 39.3 bn in 2024 — making up the brunt of the country’s total exports. Non-oil imports increased almost 9.2% to USD 79.2 bn during the same year. On the flip side, oil and gas exports amounted to USD 5.5 bn in 2024 — decreasing nearly 29% y-o-y — while oil and gas imports surged nearly 38.3% y-o-y to USD 16.1 bn.

Manufactured goods stood out as our top export product — with fully manufactured goods amounting to 54.1% of all non-petroleum goods exported. Of this, gold and gold-plated platinum came in first at USD 3.2 bn, followed by ready-made clothing and accessories at USD 2.8 bn, then plastics and iron products tied in third place — each valued at USD 2.3 bn.

A number of key imported goods decreased in total value. Corn imports fell 8.5% y-o-y last year to record USD 2.3 bn, imports of wood and wooden products fell 2.4% y-o-y to USD 1.2 bn, and crude oil imports plummeted by nearly half to USD 900 mn. Intermediate goods led the way in terms of imports, making up 35.8%, followed by fuel at 17.3%, and non-durable consumer goods at 16%.

KSA stood out as a key partner in both departments — receiving nearly 7.7% of Egypt’s total exports (USD 3.5 bn) and accounting for 8.3% of all imports (USD 7.9 bn). Looking East, China was Egypt’s top import source, responsible for some 16.5% of total imports — recording a total of USD 15.7 bn. Turkey held a near 7.6% share of total exports — recording a total of USD 3.4 bn. The US also deserves an honourable mention — delivering 8% of total imports.

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