Egypt’s charcoal export market has expanded significantly over the past decade, with export values rising from USD 8.8 million in 2016 to USD 12.8 million in 2025.
The latest data shows a market that has experienced periods of volatility, but with a clear upward trend in export value over the longer term.
Charcoal Exports More Than Doubled Since 2017
Egypt’s charcoal exports stood at USD 8.8 million in 2016, before falling sharply to USD 2.7 million in 2017.
The market then entered a gradual recovery phase:
- 2016: USD 8.8 million
- 2017: USD 2.7 million
- 2018: USD 5.1 million
- 2019: USD 5.4 million
- 2020: USD 5.2 million
- 2021: USD 6.8 million
- 2022: USD 7.6 million
- 2023: USD 11.3 million
- 2024: USD 15.2 million
- 2025: USD 12.8 million
The strongest expansion occurred between 2022 and 2024, when export value doubled from USD 7.6 million to USD 15.2 million.
Although exports declined to USD 12.8 million in 2025, the value remained substantially above the levels recorded during most of the previous decade.
A Significant Recovery After 2017
The sharp decline between 2016 and 2017 marked a major contraction in Egypt’s charcoal export value.
However, the market gradually recovered over the following years. By 2023, exports had reached USD 11.3 million, exceeding the 2016 level for the first time in the period shown.
Growth continued in 2024, when export value reached a decade-high of USD 15.2 million.
The subsequent decline in 2025 brought exports down by approximately 16% year-on-year, to USD 12.8 million.
Despite this decline, 2025 export value was still almost five times higher than the 2017 level.
What the Trend Tells Us
The evolution of Egypt’s charcoal exports points to a market characterized by both long-term expansion and short-term volatility.
The increase in export value over recent years may reflect changes in international demand, export prices, destination markets and Egypt’s position within global charcoal trade.
However, export value alone does not show whether growth was driven by higher volumes, higher prices, or a combination of both. Understanding these factors would require examining Egypt’s export quantities, average export prices and destination markets alongside the headline figures.
2024 Marked a Peak
The USD 15.2 million recorded in 2024 represents the highest export value shown in the series.
The decline to USD 12.8 million in 2025 suggests some normalization following the 2024 peak, but the market remains at a considerably higher level than during the 2017–2022 period.
This makes the recent performance particularly relevant for businesses operating across Egypt’s charcoal production, processing and export value chain.
The Bigger Picture
Egypt’s charcoal export story illustrates how an export sector can evolve through sharp cycles while maintaining a broader upward trajectory.
From USD 2.7 million in 2017 to USD 12.8 million in 2025, exports increased by more than four times.
The key question going forward is whether Egypt can sustain the higher export values seen in recent years and what factors will determine future performance, including international demand, pricing dynamics, production capacity and destination-market diversification.
Key Takeaway
Egypt’s charcoal exports reached USD 12.8 million in 2025, following a record USD 15.2 million in 2024. Despite the latest decline, export value remains significantly above the levels recorded earlier in the decade, highlighting the sector’s substantial recovery since 2017.
