Egypt Imports in 2023: Key Figures, Products & Trends
- Intermediate goods (raw materials / inputs) took the largest share among import categories. Amwal Al Ghad
- Fuel / energy imports also remained significant, though their value fell more sharply than other categories. Amwal Al Ghad+1
- Non-oil imports dropped by ~ 12.2%, while petroleum & electricity imports dropped ~ 13.3%. Amwal Al Ghad
Source Countries
- China remained Egypt’s top supplier, with ~$12.9 billion of imports from China in 2023. Business Today+1
- The United States was second (approx. US$5.4B), followed by Saudi Arabia (~US$5.2B). Russia (~US$5.0B) and Germany (~US$4.1B) also among major import sources. Business Today+1
Implications & Challenges
- The drop in total import value shows efforts to curtail external dependency, especially for items heavily impacted by foreign exchange pressures.
- Declines in key product imports (plastics, steel, wheat) may reflect domestic substitution, trade barriers, or reduced demand.
- However, reliance on fuel and energy imports remains high; fluctuations in energy prices continue to affect budget and trade balance.
- Import-led inflation remains a risk: when imports cost more, prices of local goods using imported inputs can also rise.
Conclusion
Egypt’s import landscape in 2023 shows a marked decline in total import spending — falling by about 13–14% versus 2022. Major categories like petroleum products, steel, wheat, and pharmaceuticals continued to dominate, but several saw value drops. China, the US, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and Germany were the largest sources for imports. Going forward, Egypt faces the dual task of reducing import dependence while ensuring supply of critical goods, especially in energy, food, and industry.
