The Egyptian Customs Authority has begun implementing the Advance Cargo Information (ACI) system at airports as of the beginning of the year following the application of the system at seaports two years ago.
The ACI system is a customs mechanism based on the prior registration of cargoes before their arrival in Egypt through the electronic submission of shipment data and related documents prior to sailing or airfreight.
The system aims to automate customs procedures by reducing reliance on paper-based processes, expediting the release of goods, lowering logistics costs, and enhancing state oversight of incoming cargoes.
The application of the ACI system in Egypt is based on international standards and aligns with the global customs framework. At the local level, it is one of the pillars of digital transformation in the customs field.
The fact that Egypt’s authorities can access shipment data and documentation before cargoes are dispatched from the country of export allows for prior risk assessment and the adoption of proactive decisions to expedite clearance procedures and pre-arrival control measures.
Minister of Finance Ahmed Kouchouk said the application of the ACI system at seaports since early 2024 has resulted in the issuance of 2.5 million customs clearance certificates.
He added that the system helps reduce the costs of authenticating documents abroad, eases the burden on the business community, and prevents the rejection of shipments upon arrival due to non-compliance with specifications.
The ACI system also encourages the customs authorities to complete procedures for all incoming cargoes prior to arrival and accelerate and simplify the submission of customs declarations, he noted.
Kouchouk referred to Nafeza, an e-platform that covers trade movement channels with the application of the ACI system. The new mechanism contributes to strengthening governance and transparency, improving the planning of foreign currency requirements, and preventing the entry of goods of unknown origin, thereby ensuring better quality products accessing Egypt, he added.
Ahmed Amawi, head of the Egyptian Customs Authority, said the ACI system reduces air cargo customs clearance times and lowers import and export costs. He explained that the system enables the real-time tracking of cargoes from the country of export through to final clearance at airports.
Amawi added that the new system ensures the quality and safety of goods imported by air prior to their arrival in Egypt and empowers the state to prevent the entry of substandard and non-compliant products into local markets. He called on importers, customs brokers, and air freight agents to register with the system through Nafeza.
However, importers have voiced concerns regarding the application of the ACI system.
Ashraf Al-Shahat, deputy head of the Cairo Chamber’s International Transport and Logistics Division, warned that the implementation of the ACI system for air shipments could lead to longer, rather than shorter, customs clearance times, in addition to contributing to higher consumer prices amid rising storage and ground handling fees, which currently stand at LE25 per kg per day.
Al-Shahat noted that any disruption to registration procedures via the Nafeza platform forces importers to store their goods, adding that the cost of storing one kg for a week hovers around LE17,500 (with the dollar trading at LE47), while storage fees for one ton of goods for five days can amount to LE125,000.
Importers deal with Nafeza as a government platform designed to facilitate trade, while also interacting with CargoX, a blockchain-based platform. The two platforms are complementary components of Egypt’s ACI system.
The process begins with the importer registering on Nafeza to obtain an Advance Cargo Information Declaration (ACID) number, which is a form of authentication of the importer’s details. The foreign exporter then uploads the shipment documents via CargoX, linked to this number, after which the documents are transmitted electronically to Nafeza for digital signature and final approval.
CargoX thus becomes the shipment’s electronic passport prior to its entry into Egypt.
Amawi pointed out that CargoX is an additional burden on importers, as it increases the already high costs of air freight compared with maritime shipping. He noted that platform fees can, in some cases, range between $200 and $300, a cost that is ultimately shouldered by the final consumer.
He added that if the objective of the platform is to secure the shipping process and ensure that no smuggling or irregularities occur, this could be achieved through an Egyptian platform operating on the same system, rather than relying on CargoX. He noted that some invoices may run to 150 or even 200 pages, a factor that prolongs customs clearance times.
Amawi said that many countries assign a single unified client number to the bill of lading, which he described as more effective than the ACI system applied to sea freight. The ACI system applied to maritime shipments continues to face challenges despite its mandatory application to all sea-borne imports, he said.
Al-Shahat called for simplifying procedures related to the maritime shipping system, while taking into account the operational policies of airlines, which differ from those of maritime transport.
Other importers, however, such as Bishoi Magdi, representative of Global Nabi Pharmaceuticals, believe that the ACI system is one of the most important steps supporting the facilitation of import and export activities in Egypt.
He said the system has multiple advantages, such as the simplification of procedures, faster customs clearance, and reduced time for cargoes at ports and airports.
He added that his company’s successful experience with the maritime system has given it considerable optimism regarding the application of the same framework to air cargo, particularly in the light of the rapid digital transformation currently underway in the logistics sector.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 8 January, 2026 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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