Recent official data revealed that the value of Egyptian exports to various countries around the world rose to USD 26 billion during the first half of 2025, compared to $21.8 billion during the same period in 2024, an increase of approximately $4.2 billion or a 19 percent increase. 

Data issued by Egypt's Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMS) said the trade deficit reached nearly USD 4.40 billion in June 2025, compared to $3.56 billion in the same month of the previous year, an increase of approximately 23.4 percent.

The value of exports increased by 4.7 percent in June 2025, reaching $3.50 billion, compared to about $3.34 billion in the same month of the previous year.

This is attributed to a 14.6 percent increase in the value of exports of specific commodities, notably petroleum products, ready-made garments, and fresh fruits, which increased by 28.8 percent, and various pasta and food preparations by 23.7 percent.

The value of exports of some commodities declined during June 2025 compared to the same month of the previous year, most notably iron bars, rods, angles, and wires, which fell by 11.7 percent. Fertilizers also declined by 67.9 percent, dried legumes by 2.0 percent, and flat-rolled iron or steel products by 22.0 percent.

During June, the value of imports increased by 14.4 percent, reaching $7.90 billion compared to $6.91 billion for the same month of the previous year. This is due to a 36.4 percent increase in the value of imports of certain commodities, most notably petroleum products, natural gas, and passenger cars, respectively, increasing by 53.5 percent and corn by 24.6 percent.

The value of imports of certain commodities decreased in June 2025 compared to the same month of the previous year, most notably raw materials such as iron or steel, which decreased by 3.0 percent, wheat by 6.0 percent, plastics in their primary forms by 16.4 percent, and organic and inorganic chemicals by 23.0 percent.

10 countries account for 53 percent of total exports

Of the list of countries that imported the most from Egypt during the first six months of this year, the UAE topped the list with imports valued at $3.8 billion, followed by Italy in second place with $1.9 billion, and Turkey in third place with $1.7 billion.

Saudi Arabia ranked fourth, with imports from Egypt totalling approximately $1.5 billion during the first half of 2025. The US ranked fifth with $1.4 billion, and the UK ranked sixth with $822.4 million.

Switzerland ranked seventh with $726.4 million, followed by Libya in eighth place with $718.1 million, Spain in ninth place with $712.1 million, and finally the Netherlands in tenth place with $620.1 million. These countries account for 53.1 percent of Egypt's total exports to various countries worldwide, equivalent to approximately $13.8 billion.

Petroleum products topped the list of Egyptian exported goods during the first half of this year, with a value of $1.7 billion, followed by ready-made garments in second place with a value of $1.6 billion. Egypt's fresh fruit exports ranked third, valued at $1.4 billion, followed by fertilizers in fourth place with $1.4 billion, and pasta and various food preparations in fifth place with $1.1 billion.

Plastic exports in primary forms ranked sixth, valued at $790.4 million, followed by iron bars, rods, angles, and wires in seventh place with $527.3 million. Crude petroleum exports ranked eighth, valued at $519.1 million, and potato exports ranked ninth with $503.9 million. Dried legume exports ranked tenth, valued at $242.1 million.

These commodities account for 37.6 percent of Egypt's total exports to various countries worldwide amounting to $9.8 billion.