File Photo: Tailors sewing at the Marie Louis textile clothing and textile factory in the 10th of Ramadan city. AFP
The statement cited a report covering foreign trade indicators for 2025, issued by Egypt’s General Organization for Export and Import Control (GOEIC), it showed the overall non-oil trade deficit for the year fell by 9 percent to $34.4 billion, compared to $37.8 billion in 2024.
Non-oil imports, however, inched up slightly by five percent to $83.14 billion, compared to $79.3 billion in 2024.
Egypt’s gold exports jumped by 137.5 percent of $4.4 billion to $7.6 billion in 2025, compared to $3.2 billion the year before.
Moreover, key non-oil export sectors included building materials sector, which was valued at $14.8 billion in 2025, followed by the chemical products and fertilizers sectors at $9.4 billion and the food industries sector which reached at $6.8 billion.
Other prominent non-oil export sectors included the engineering and electronic goods valued at $6.4 billion, followed by agricultural products which reached $4.6 billion, ready-made garments valued at $3.3 billion, the spinning and weaving sector at $1.1 billion.
The medical industries sector reached $996 million, the printing, packaging, paper, books and publication sector had a value of $638 million, the furniture sector at $427 million, leather footwear and products reached $107 million.
The main importers for Egyptian non-oil products included countries such as the United Arab Emirates, followed by Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Italy and the US.
Egypt is aiming to increase annual exports to $115.8 billion by 2030, lower than the $145 billion target announced in January 2024, as per the country’s development narrative. The narrative emphasizes, among other aspects, export-oriented industries and achieving a growth target of 7.5 per cent by 2030.
The cabinet has also directed export councils to prepare plans to raise non-oil exports by 15–20 percent annually through 2030. As well as, to increase the contribution of the industrial sector to GDP from 14 to 20 percent by 2030.
The ministry is hoping for Egypt to become one of the top 50 countries in international trade performance indicators, as per a strategy to reduce the trade deficit, achieve self-sufficiency in key industrial materials, reduce imports, boost exports, maximize trade agreements between Egypt and foreign trade partners and achieve fiscal sustainable growth.
The non-oil trade deficit narrowed by 40 percent to $9.5 billion in the first quarter of FY 2025/2026, compared with $9.8 billion in the same period of FY 2024/2025.
This was due to a 24.1 percent increase in non-oil exports, reaching $9.8 billion, driven by higher exports of gold, household electrical appliances, fresh, chilled or cooked vegetables, fresh or dried fruits, and ready-made garments.
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