Egyptian firms sign $168 mln in export deals with Chinese buyers

Ahram Online , Wednesday 19 Aug 2026

Egyptian companies have signed 17 export contracts worth about $168 million with Chinese buyers, as Cairo seeks to expand access for its products in the world's second-largest economy, the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade stated on Wednesday.

Photo courtesy of Egypt's cabinet

The deals were signed during an ‘Export to China’ trade event that brought together 16 Chinese importers and about 40 Egyptian exporters from sectors including agriculture, food, minerals, engineering, leather, and textiles.

The contracts cover exports of linen, textile yarns, leather, copper, aluminium, sugar cane and oranges, according to the ministry.

The event was organized by Egypt's Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade and China's Ministry of Commerce, with the Chinese Embassy in Cairo and the Egyptian Exporters Association (ExpoLink).

Investment and Foreign Trade Minister Mohamed Farid Saleh said securing actual export contracts, rather than simply promoting Egyptian products, was a key goal of the ministry's trade efforts.

“Achieving actual export contracts is one of the main objectives of the ministry's promotional efforts,” Farid said, adding that the government wanted to build direct and lasting relationships between Egyptian exporters and international buyers.

He said Egypt was also seeking to make greater use of existing economic cooperation with China while attracting Chinese investment into productive and export-oriented industries, which could help Egyptian companies gain access to technology and expertise, increase local value added, and improve the competitiveness of domestic industries.

Sayed Fouad, minister plenipotentiary for trade and head of the Asia Department at Egypt's Commercial Representation, said the 17 contracts were the result of direct meetings between Egyptian exporters and Chinese companies.

He said Egypt's trade representation network had worked with the Chinese embassy, Chinese counterparts, and ExpoLink to bring the companies together.

Egypt and China have significantly expanded their economic ties in recent years, with their relationship elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2014.

Fouad said initiatives including China's Belt and Road Initiative, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), and cooperation through the BRICS grouping could open additional opportunities for Egyptian exporters.

He also pointed to China's decision to exempt exports from African countries from customs duties for two years from 1 May 2026, saying the measure could help Egypt diversify its exports and improve the competitiveness of its products in the Chinese market.

Abdel Aziz El-Sherif, first undersecretary at the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade and head of the Commercial Representation, said the agency would continue working to expand Egyptian exports to China and help local companies take advantage of opportunities created by Chinese trade initiatives.

He said the $168 million in deals showed the value of putting Egyptian exporters directly in contact with overseas buyers and following up until potential sales translate into contracts.

The ministry is also seeking to attract more Chinese investment into Egyptian manufacturing and other productive sectors, El-Sherif said, to encourage technology and knowledge transfer and increase local value added.

Egypt's Commercial Representation offices in Beijing and Shanghai will monitor the contracts’ implementation and work with Chinese counterparts to identify additional opportunities for Egyptian exporters, he said.