File Photo: Tailors sewing at the Marie Louis textile clothing and textile factory in the 10th of Ramadan city. AFP
In this factbox, Ahram Online outlines non-oil commodity exports, top trading partners, and untapped export potential, comparing the fourth quarter of 2025 with the same period in 2024.
Total exports reached $11.2 billion in 4Q 2024, while total non-oil imports rose by about 9.9 percent to $23.3 billion in 4Q 2025, up from $21.2 billion in 4Q 2024.
Exported commodities
The top commodities that increased in exports include the following:
- Natural or cultured stones and precious metals increased by 22.8 percent to $1.3 billion in 2025, up $244.8 million from $1.1 billion in the same quarter a year earlier. Their share rose to 11 percent of total non-oil exports from 9.6 percent.
- Machinery, electrical appliances, equipment, and their parts increased by 16.6 percent to $891.1 million, up by $126.8 million from $764.3 million. Their share rose to 7.5 percent from 6.9 percent.
- Fruits and citrus peels increased by 19.7 percent to $714.4 million, up by $117.5 million from $596.9 million. Their share rose to 6 percent from 5.4 percent.
Other export categories that increased include fertilizers, clothing, and related textile products.
Meanwhile, exports of some commodities declined:
- Plastics and related products fell by 3.8 percent to $641.5 million, down by about $25.1 million from $666.6 million. Their share fell to 5.9 percent from 6.3 percent.
- Mineral fuels, mineral oils, and their products fell by 19 percent to nearly $494.1 million, down by $116 million from $610.1 million. Their share fell to 4.1 percent from 5.5 percent.
- Vegetables, plants, roots, and tubers fell by 4.9 percent to $409.1 million, down by about $20.9 million from $430 million. Their share fell to 3.4 percent from 3.9 percent.
Other declining exports included salt, sulfur, gypsum, cast iron and steel, and copper and related products.
Main importing countries and untapped potential
The United Arab Emirates ranked first, accounting for 9.4 percent of Egypt’s non-oil exports, or $1.1 billion in 4Q 2025, compared with $1 billion in the same period in 2024.
It was followed by Turkey, accounting for 6.9 percent or $820.6 million, down from $903.8 million, and Saudi Arabia, with 6.6 percent or $783.3 million, down from $872.2 million.
Egypt also has significant untapped export potential in several sectors.
According to the IDSC report citing World Trade Centre estimates for 2030, the country has up to $32 billion in untapped export opportunities.
Out of 20 products, the top three are as follows:
- Unprocessed gold for non-monetary use, with potential to increase exports by about $2.2 billion (6.8 percent of untapped potential),
- Urea, which could add $1.6 billion,
- Oranges, which could add $1 billion.
The United States is the largest market for Egypt’s untapped export potential, valued at $2.8 billion (8.8 percent), followed by Turkey at $1.9 billion, the UAE at $1.8 billion, and Saudi Arabia at $1.7 billion.
Trade deficit and surplus
Egypt’s total non-oil trade deficit widened by 13 percent to $11.3 billion in 4Q 2025, compared with $10 billion in 4Q 2024.
During the quarter, Egypt’s largest trade deficit was with China at $5.7 billion, followed by the United States and the UAE at $2.2 billion, Brazil at $1.8 billion, and Turkey and Germany at $1.6 billion each.
Libya recorded the largest trade surplus with Egypt at $422.7 million, followed by Algeria at $336.2 million and Switzerland at $334.5 million.
Egypt’s trade surplus with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries fell by 47.6 percent to $228 million in 4Q 2025, compared with $435.5 million a year earlier.
Exports to GCC countries rose by 2.4 percent to $2.11 billion, up from $2.06 billion, with 53 percent going to the UAE. Imports from GCC countries rose by 18.8 percent to $1.9 billion, up from $1.6 billion.
Exports are a key source of foreign currency as Egypt aims to reduce its import bill, increase exports by 15–20 percent annually through 2030, and raise the industrial sector’s share of GDP from 14 percent to 20 percent while addressing production gaps, according to its economic development plan.
These figures come amid ongoing regional tensions following the outbreak of the US-Israeli war on Iran, which has contributed to global inflationary pressures and tighter financial conditions. The conflict has disrupted supply chains, increased inflation, and raised import costs.
As a result, Egypt is expanding local manufacturing and boosting exports, as fuel prices rise and the Egyptian pound experiences volatility.
Egypt’s non-oil private sector activity fell further in March at its fastest pace in two years due to escalating regional conflict. Economic growth is expected to slow to 4.2 percent in 2026 before recovering to 4.8 percent in 2027, as higher energy and food prices continue to weigh on commodity-importing economies.
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