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The Egyptian Finance Ministry has issued a temporary six-month break on the fee charged to verify documents for incoming air shipments under the Advance Cargo Information (ACI) system. The move comes as ACI registration became mandatory for all airborne shipments starting 1 January. The move will see the verification cost decline to USD 95 from USD 175, per a cabinet statement.
Why does it matter? It’s a carrot-and-stick approach to ensure 100% compliance by mid-2026. ACI regulations require documents on each cargo to be uploaded before shipment — just like the API (or Advance Passenger Information) flag when you register to fly as a passenger. Failure to provide ACI data can result in goods being barred from entry and see them re-exported at the importer’s expense.
BACKGROUND- Egypt began applying ACI on sea freight in 2021 as it accounts for a vast majority of Egypt’s trade traffic, Amawi said.
What to watch out for-
The real test isn’t the cost, but speed. Air freight exists because it is time-sensitive. Currently, about 50% of air cargo clears Egyptian customs in under a day, while the other half can languish for several days, head of the Egyptian Customs Authority Ahmad Amawi told EnterpriseAM in an interview last month. By moving the paperwork to the pre-shipment phase, the government hopes it can push that 50% figure much higher. For operators in pharma or high-tech components, the benefit isn’t in just saving USD 80 per shipment — it’s the potential to save time.
How quickly air shippers will be able to embrace the ACI system will be key for a successful rollout — about 20% of air cargo shippers will be using the system for the first time (the remaining 80% are already active in maritime shipping and are well-acquainted with the system).
ALSO- Keep an eye on the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) whitelist, which Amawi recently told us has grown to 700+ companies. Expect the government to lean on these trusted traders to lead the ACI rollout for air freight, potentially offering even faster clearances for those who master the digital workflow early.
