Egypt non-oil exports rise to $12bn in Q4 2025 – IDSC

Egypt’s non-oil merchandise exports rose 7.1 per cent year on year to $12 billion in the fourth quarter of 2025, while imports increased 9.9 per cent to $23.3 billion, according to the 20th edition of the Non-Oil Merchandise Exports report issued by the Cabinet Information and Decision Support Center (IDSC).

The report showed that pearls and precious stones led exports at $1.318 billion, up from $1.074 billion a year earlier, followed by electrical machinery, equipment, and parts at $891.1 million compared with $764.3 million, and edible fruits and nuts at $714.4 million versus $596.9 million. These sectors recorded strong annual gains alongside broader export growth.

In contrast, exports of cast iron, iron and steel fell sharply to $408.3 million from $692 million, mineral fuels declined to $494.1 million from $610.1 million, and copper and related products dropped to $240.8 million from $296.5 million.

The United Arab Emirates was the largest importer of Egyptian non-oil goods during the quarter at $1.1 billion, followed by Turkey at $820.6 million and Saudi Arabia at $783.3 million.

China remained Egypt’s largest trading partner overall with total trade of $5.7 billion, followed by the United States and the United Arab Emirates at $2.2 billion each, then Brazil at $1.8 billion.

The report also highlighted around $32 billion in untapped export potential by 2030, particularly in unwrought non-monetary gold, urea, and oranges, with the United States identified as the largest potential market at $2.8 billion, followed by Turkey at $1.9 billion.

China recorded the largest non-oil trade deficit with Egypt at $5.43 billion, followed by Brazil at $1.32 billion and Russia at $1.30 billion. Libya ranked first among countries with which Egypt posted a non-oil trade surplus at $422.7 million, while nine of the top ten surplus markets were Arab countries. Egypt’s surplus with Switzerland also rose to $334.5 million from $137.8 million in 2024.