Egypt’s exports rise 3.58% in May, trade deficit falls – CAPMAS

Egypt’s exports rose 3.58 per cent year on year (YoY) to $4.53 billion in May 2026, compared with $4.37 billion in the same month of the previous year. The country’s trade deficit reached $3.99 billion in May 2026, down 0.30 per cent from $4.00 billion in May 2025, according to the Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS).

The increase in exports was driven by higher shipments of several commodities, including fresh fruits, which rose 40.3 per cent; fertilisers, by 9.4 per cent; plastics in their primary forms, by 29.1 per cent; and crude oil, by 56.4 per cent.

Meanwhile, exports of ready-made garments fell 10.4 per cent, miscellaneous food preparations declined 12.6 per cent, bars, rods, angles and wires of iron dropped 50.2 per cent, and carpets and rugs decreased 12.4 per cent.

Imports increased 1.72 per cent year on year to $8.52 billion in May 2026, compared with $8.37 billion in May 2025.

The rise in imports was mainly driven by natural gas, which increased 96.8 per cent; petroleum products, by 18.2 per cent; raw materials of iron or steel, by 3.3 per cent; and wheat, by 33.5 per cent.

In contrast, imports of plastics in their primary forms declined by 15.6 per cent, medicines and pharmaceutical products fell by 39.1 per cent, maize decreased by 4.0 per cent, and organic and inorganic chemicals dropped by 24.9 per cent.