Egypt’s exports up 6.5% in 2024 – CAPMAS

Egypt’s exports rose 6.5 per cent in 2024 to $45.3 billion, but imports rose at more than double the pace, up 13.2% to $95.3 billion, widening the trade gap, official data showed on Monday.

Egypt’s exports grew 6.5 per cent in 2024 to $45.3 billion, while imports increased 13.2 per cent to $95.3 billion, official data showed on Tuesday.

The Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS) said non-petroleum exports jumped 14.4 per cent to $39.9 billion, offsetting a 29.1 per cent drop in petroleum and electricity shipments to $5.5 billion.

Finished goods accounted for 54.1 per cent of exports, semi-finished goods 23.2 per cent, and raw materials 11.2 per cent. Gold, including unwrought and platinum-plated, was the biggest driver, surging 77.7 per cent to $3.2 billion. Plastics rose 27.3 per cent to $2.3 billion, ready-made garments 17.2 per cent to $2.8 billion, iron 4.4 per cent to $2.3 billion, and insulated wires and cables 23.6 per cent to $1.4 billion.

Top Export Markets

Saudi Arabia was Egypt’s largest buyer, with exports up 31.1 per cent to $3.5 billion, or 7.7 per cent of the total. Türkiye ranked second at $3.4 billion, though shipments fell 6 per cent, while exports to the UAE jumped 47.5 per cent to $3.3 billion. Arab countries received 36.2 per cent of total exports, Western Europe 25.9  per cent, and Eastern Europe 18.1 per cent.

Export Hubs
Alexandria port handled the largest share at 31.1 per cent, followed by Cairo airports with 14.8 per cent, 10th of Ramadan dry port with 10.4 per cent, Damietta with 7.9 per cent, Suez with 7.5 per cent, and Dekheila with 5.0 per cent.

Imports Performance 
On the import side, non-petroleum goods rose 9.2 per cent to $79.2 billion, while petroleum imports surged 38.3 per cent to $16.1 billion. Intermediate goods made up 35.8 per cent of imports, while fuel accounted for 17.3 per cent. Crude oil imports fell sharply by 50.5 per cent to $0.9 billion.

China remained Egypt’s top supplier with imports up 18.7 per cent to $15.7 billion, followed by Saudi Arabia at $7.9 billion (+43.9 per cent), the United States at $7.6 billion (+48.6 per cent), and Russia at $6.1 billion (+21.7 per cent).

Asia provided 30.6 per cent of Egypt’s imports, Western Europe 21.5 per cent, and Eastern Europe 16.5 per cent. Alexandria port accounted for 22.1 per cent of total imports, with Cairo airport at 20.8 per cent, Ain Sokhna port at 12.3 per cent, Dekheila at 11.7 per cent, Damietta at 10.9 per cent, and Suez at 9.9 per cent.

Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English

Subediting: Y.Yasser