Egypt’s Exports Rise 21.1 Percent to 5.1 Billion Dollars in April as the Trade Deficit Widens to 4.8 Billion
Egypt’s merchandise exports rose 21.1 percent from a year earlier to 5.1 billion dollars in April, while imports climbed 20.7 percent to 9.9 billion dollars, leaving the trade deficit 20.2 percent wider at 4.8 billion dollars, according to the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics. The figures come from CAPMAS’s monthly foreign trade bulletin, which is published on a customs basis about two and a half months after the reference month.
The export gain was led by petroleum products, up 44.8 percent, fresh fruit, up 62.6 percent, and ready-made garments, up 30 percent, while fertilizer exports fell 58.4 percent and iron products dropped 37.6 percent. On the import side, copper and its products jumped 84.1 percent and wheat rose 57.5 percent, whereas imports of passenger cars fell 22.5 percent.
The headline tells only part of the story, our reading. Exports covered about 52 percent of imports in April, up from a lower share a year earlier as export values grew a touch faster in percentage terms, our calculation on the 5.1 billion dollars of exports against 9.9 billion dollars of imports. Even so, the deficit widened in absolute terms because imports are roughly double exports, so a similar percentage rise on a much larger import base still outweighs the export gain, our reading.
Why it matters: The trade balance is a core part of Egypt’s external position, which the government is working to strengthen under its international financing programme. A strong export rebound is encouraging, but a still-wide and growing merchandise deficit keeps pressure on the current account and underlines the reliance on remittances, tourism and Suez Canal receipts to bridge the gap.
Outlook: The next monthly bulletin, for May, will show whether the export momentum in petroleum and food holds, and whether the import bill keeps rising. The trade balance also feeds into the Central Bank of Egypt’s coming balance-of-payments updates.
| Measure | April 2026 | Change year on year |
|---|---|---|
| Exports | 5.1 billion dollars | up 21.1 percent |
| Imports | 9.9 billion dollars | up 20.7 percent |
| Trade deficit | 4.8 billion dollars | up 20.2 percent |
| Export cover of imports, our calculation | about 52 percent | Exports over imports |
| Petroleum product exports | – | up 44.8 percent |
| Fresh fruit exports | – | up 62.6 percent |
| Fertilizer exports | – | down 58.4 percent |
Sources: Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics.
