Egypt’s foreign trade slightly higher in H1 2019: CAPMAS

Egypt’s foreign trade inched slightly higher by 0.9 percent to register  $54.245  in the first half of 2019 against $53.744 billion a year earlier, according to a recent report.

“Trade balance deficit climbed 0.4 percent to record $23.735 billion during H1 2019 up from $23.844 billion during the same period last year,” the country’s state-run statics agency CAPMAS said in its bulletin.

Egyptian imports have grown 0.5 percent to around $38.99 billion versus $38.794.399 billion, driven by a  3.7 percent rise in non-petroleum imports to register $34.691 billion from 33.457  billion in 2019.

“Egyptian exports edged higher by  2 percent posting $15.255 billion versus $14.95 billion in 2018, driven by a 175 percent rise in petroleum exports to $1.378 billion from $500 million,” CAPMAS added.

Crude oil imports slipped 21.4 percent to $3.518 billion, compared to $4.478 million in the comparable period.