CAIRO - 5 February 2026: Egypt’s net international reserves rose by $1.14 billion in January to reach around $52.6 billion, up from $51.45 billion in December 2025, driven mainly by a significant increase in gold holdings, official data showed on Thursday.
Figures released by the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) indicated that gold reserves jumped by nearly $2.6 billion to $20.73 billion at the end of January, compared with $18.17 billion a month earlier.
Meanwhile, foreign currency reserves recorded a decline of about $1.53 billion, falling to $31.7 billion from $33.2 billion in December.
Egypt’s international reserves consist of gold, Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) at the International Monetary Fund, and a diversified basket of major global currencies, including the US dollar, euro, British pound, Japanese yen, and Chinese yuan.
The allocation of these assets is based on exchange rate movements and the relative stability of each currency, according to a strategy set by the central bank.
Rising foreign reserves are seen as a key factor in strengthening confidence in Egypt’s economy among international institutions and supporting the country’s chances of further credit rating upgrades.
In this regard, S&P Global Ratings upgraded Egypt’s sovereign credit rating by one notch to B from B- last September, citing ongoing economic and fiscal reforms.
The agency highlighted stronger GDP growth, higher tourism revenues, increased remittances from Egyptians working abroad, and an improvement in net financial inflows.
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