Egypt Targets Increased Exports to African Markets

Egypt aims to boost its export volume to African nations by diversifying trade destinations and strengthening commercial partnerships, according to Industry Minister Khaled Hashem. Speaking at the “Scaling Egypt’s Industrial Champions” forum, organized by the American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt and the African Export-Import Bank, Hashem identified significant potential for Egyptian industrial, agricultural, and engineering goods.

Trade Context and Current Figures

Intra-African trade reached approximately $214 billion in 2025, an annual increase of 5.5% within a total merchandise trade market of $1.5 trillion. Egypt currently accounts for about 4.4% of that intra-African trade, totaling roughly $9.3 billion. Hashem characterized this share as disproportionate to Egypt’s industrial capacity, signaling a need for growth.

Data presented at the forum indicated that Egyptian exports to African Union countries reached approximately $7.6 billion in 2025, a slight decrease from $7.8 billion in 2024. Imports from these nations also declined, falling to $2 billion from $2.1 billion the previous year. Total trade between Egypt and African Union members stood at $9.6 billion in 2025.

Key Export Commodities

Egypt’s export portfolio to the continent includes a variety of manufactured and raw goods. Leading exports in 2025 featured:

• Electrical machinery and equipment: $633.6 million
• Plastics and plastic products: $544.4 million
• Iron and steel: $528.3 million
• Processed food products: $517.8 million
• Vegetables and fruit: $491.4 million
• Salt, stone, and cement: $446.4 million

The government maintains that expanding exports to global markets is a primary objective for the industrial sector. Hashem noted that African markets offer specific opportunities for rapid growth, which could allow Egyptian exports to multiply quickly.

Why it matters: For Egypt, increasing trade with African partners is a strategic priority to boost industrial output and foreign currency inflows. By leveraging existing infrastructure and focusing on high-demand sectors like engineering and food processing, the country seeks to align its trade volume with its actual production capabilities.