Foreign Assets
The banking sector’s net foreign assets fell to $21.3 billion at the end of March, compared with $27.4 billion in February.
Data showed that net foreign assets held by commercial banks operating in the local market increased to around $12.4 billion in December, compared with $11.8 billion in November 2025, reflecting stronger foreign currency positions.
In addition to the rise in NFA, the country’s net international reserves also saw a slight uptick
The rise in net foreign assets can largely be attributed to a reduced deficit in commercial banks, contributing significantly to the overall improvement.
Earlier in 2024, NFAs showed signs of recovery, turning positive in May for the first time since January 2022. However, after peaking at $14.3 billion in May, the surplus has since contracted by 58 percent, highlighting the mounting challenges faced by the sector.
Egypt’s foreign assets only recently shifted to a surplus back in May, following two years of a deficit caused by several conditions including a large number of foreign investors pulling out from the market.
Net foreign assets refer to the difference between banks’ assets owed by non-residents and their liabilities owed to non-residents.
The new surplus reflects the country’s rapid recovery from previous deficits, which almost reached a high of $30 billion earlier this year, exacerbated by external economic challenges
NFAs saw a slight improvement during November, reported at negative $11.2 billion compared to negative $11.3 billion in October
According to the latest data by the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE), net foreign liabilities rose to LE 2,287 billion in July, compared to LE 2,275 billion in June
Egypt's NFAs deficit surged by LE 536.2 billion ($17.33 billion) month-on-month (m-o-m) in March 2023
Such an increase in the net foreign assets reflects the strength of the Egyptian banking sector and good management of those in charge of it, Head of the Treasury Sector at the Industrial Development Bank (IDB) Haytham Adel said.
