By: Economy Middle East

Egypt’s exports witnessed a rapid increase in April 2026, driven by a surge in key commodity exports including petroleum, clothing and certain food items.

The value of exports increased by 21.1 percent to $5.1 billion during April 2026, up from $4.2 billion during the same month of the previous year. This surge was driven by a 44.8 percent increase in petroleum product exports, a 30 percent increase in ready-made clothes exports, and a 6.8 percent increase in pasta and pasta preparations exports.

Egypt’s trade deficit widens to $4.8 billion

The latest data by Egypt’s Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics revealed that export values of some commodities decreased during April 2026, including fertilizers by 58.4 percent, iron rods, bars, angles and wires by 37.6 percent, potatoes by 51.2 percent and dry legumes by 4.4 percent.

As Egypt’s exports surged, imports also increased significantly, leading to a $4.8 billion trade deficit, which grew 20.2 percent compared to April 2025, when it reached $4 billion.

Egypt’s imports rise 20.7 percent to $9.9 billion

The report also revealed that Egypt’s imports increased by 20.7 percent to $9.9 billion in April 2026, up from $8.2 billion in the same month of the previous year.

The increase was driven by a 57.5 percent surge in wheat exports and a 6.5 percent rise in imports of raw materials of iron or steel. Imports of copper and its products also increased by 84.1 percent in April, while imports of plastics in their primary forms rose by 16.3 percent.

The report also revealed that Egypt’s imports of some commodities decreased in April 2026. Petroleum product imports fell by 4.4 percent, organic and inorganic chemical imports by 11.1 percent, passenger cars by 22.5 percent and refined oils by 6.7 percent.