File Photo: Safaga Sea Port. Al-Ahram
In a statement, the ministry said all relevant authorities are operating at full capacity to support the movement of Egyptian exports to foreign markets. It confirmed that export activity has continued without interruption.
The ministry said Safaga Port on the Red Sea has served as an alternative gateway for Egyptian exports affected by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, enabling shipments to continue reaching Gulf markets via alternative transport routes.
Officials noted that international trade flows may sometimes experience limited and short-term delays in shipments due to fluctuations in shipping and insurance costs or changes in transportation arrangements stemming from regional developments. Such disruptions, the statement added, are handled swiftly through Egypt’s transport and logistics system.
Data from Egyptian ports show that export flows have continued steadily, reflecting Egypt’s foreign trade system's ability to adapt to logistical changes and maintain supply chains.
Minister of Investment and External Trade Hassan El-Khatib has instructed authorities to continue expediting logistics procedures to support exporters, maintain foreign trade activity, and secure alternative routes to sustain Egyptian exports.
Meanwhile, the General Organization for Export and Import Control (GOEIC), headed by Essam El-Naggar, is working to streamline inspection procedures for export consignments and issue conformity certificates in coordination with port authorities and logistics operators to accelerate export clearance and improve shipping efficiency.
The ministry said the land-sea transport route between Safaga Port in Egypt and Duba Port in Saudi Arabia has recorded a notable increase in export traffic between 1 and 15 March 2026 compared with the same period last year.
During the same period in 2025, the route handled 25 trips carrying 2,406 shipments totaling 60,150 tons of goods. On the other hand, between 1 and 15 March 2026, the number rose to 38 trips transporting 4,200 shipments with a total cargo volume of around 105,000 tons—representing an increase of nearly 75 percent in export volumes transported through the corridor.
Under this route, goods are transported by land to Safaga Port, shipped by ferry to Duba Port in Saudi Arabia, and then distributed to Saudi markets and other Gulf destinations.
Average daily traffic along the route is about 500 refrigerated containers, transported on four ferry trips daily. The ferry's average capacity is 12,500 tons. Currently, eight ferries from both public and private sectors operate on the route to accommodate rising export demand.
The ministry said key goods transported along this route include fresh Egyptian fruits and vegetables, as well as some products shipped as part of transit trade operations.
Shipping activity has also increased along the Nuweiba–Aqaba maritime route linking Egypt and Jordan, where the average number of trucks transported daily has risen from around 60–70 trucks to nearly 100 refrigerated containers on some days, enabling Egyptian goods to be redistributed through Jordan’s road network to several regional markets.
The ministry said these indicators reflect ongoing government efforts to support Egypt’s foreign trade system and provide logistical alternatives that sustain Egyptian exports despite regional disruptions.
The clarification comes amid rising regional tensions that have disrupted key maritime trade routes in the Middle East, particularly after shipping risks increased in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil and cargo transit chokepoints. The strait handles roughly one-fifth of global oil shipments and a large share of Gulf trade. Therefore, any disruption there can quickly raise shipping and insurance costs and affect supply chains across the region.
For Egypt, the Gulf represents one of the most important destinations for agricultural and food exports, particularly fresh fruits, vegetables, and refrigerated goods, which rely on fast and predictable logistics. Any delays in maritime routes can therefore have immediate implications for exporters and regional supply chains.
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