Egypt’s non-oil exports jump 19.6% to $12.2B in Q3 2025

CAIRO – 26 March 2026: Egypt recorded strong growth in non-oil exports during the third quarter of 2025, reaching $12.2 billion, compared with nearly $10.2 billion in the same period of 2024, reflecting a 19.6 percent increase, based on a report issued by the Cabinet’s Information and Decision Support Center.

Meanwhile, non-oil imports edged down slightly to $20.6 billion in Q3 2025, compared with around $20.7 billion in the corresponding quarter of 2024, marking a 0.5 percent decline, according to data from the General Organization for Export and Import Control.

Supported by stronger export performance and marginally lower imports, Egypt’s non-oil trade deficit narrowed notably to $8.4 billion in the third quarter of 2025, down from approximately $10.5 billion a year earlier, representing a 20 percent reduction.

The data also indicated continued quarterly improvement in export activity, with non-oil exports rising from $11.3 billion in the second quarter of 2025 to $12.2 billion in the third quarter, an increase of 8 percent, highlighting sustained momentum in Egypt’s export sector.

In terms of product categories, natural and cultured pearls and precious stones topped Egypt’s non-oil exports during the quarter, reaching about $2.4 billion, compared with roughly $848.2 million in the same quarter of 2024, reflecting a sharp rise in export value.

Electrical machinery, equipment, and components ranked second, recording exports worth $847.1 million, up from $796.6 million a year earlier.

Fertilizer exports also posted solid growth, totaling $630.8 million, compared with $476.0 million, an increase of $154.8 million, while prepared food products reached $239.5 million, up from $108.8 million.

Despite the overall improvement in export performance, some sectors experienced declines during the quarter.

Exports of aromatic oils, resins, and perfume preparations fell to approximately $103.8 million, down from $178.4 million, reflecting a decrease of about $74.6 million.

Plastic product exports also declined to $644.0 million, compared with $705.8 million, while iron and steel exports dropped to $440.2 million, down from $500.6 million.

Regarding export destinations, the United Arab Emirates remained the largest importer of Egyptian non-oil goods in the third quarter of 2025, with imports valued at $2.1 billion, accounting for 17.2 percent of total non-oil exports.

Saudi Arabia ranked second with imports worth $764.5 million, representing 6.3 percent, followed by Turkey with imports valued at $707 million, equivalent to 5.8 percent of total exports.

The report also underscored significant untapped opportunities for Egypt’s non-oil exports. Estimates by the International Trade Center suggest that Egypt has unrealized export potential in selected products worth approximately $32 billion by 2030, signaling substantial room for expanding export capacity in global markets.

At the broader trade level, China remained Egypt’s largest trading partner in the third quarter of 2025, with total trade valued at $5.2 billion, followed by the United Arab Emirates at $2.5 billion, the United States at $2.1 billion, and both Saudi Arabia and Germany at around $1.5 billion each.

Egypt also achieved trade surpluses with 92 countries during the quarter, led by the United Arab Emirates, where the surplus reached approximately $1.7 billion, compared with $206.7 million in the same period of 2024, reflecting a marked improvement in the country’s external trade balance.